soon chasing leading pair, ridden well over 1f out, weakened over 1f out
took keen hold, held up last, closer in 4th halfway, ridden approaching final furlong, went 3rd inside final furlong, but not pace of leading duo, lost 3rd post
soon chasing leader, ridden 2f out, lost 2nd and rider dropped whip over 1f out, dropped to 4th inside final furlong, urged along and kept on to regain 3rd post but not pace of leading duo
broke well, soon settled in last pair, dropped to last halfway and soon pushed along, good headway on outside into 2nd over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well
soon led and set steady pace, quickened halfway, ridden and headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace
Tarooq is penalised for an earlier Listed win and has yet to show his best in a couple of starts on the all-weather this winter. He finished behind Boom The Groom on both occasions and the latter also finished ahead of Magnus Maximus when scoring at Lingfield on his latest start. But HALLELUJAH (NAP) is fancied to take advantage of her mares allowance after failing by only a short-head over track and trip last time and James Fanshawe's sprinter gets the vote. It's difficult to get a handle on South African Grade 1 winner Happy Valentine but she is an intriguing runner on her first start since 2013 having joined a leading French trainer in Alain De Royer-Dupre.
Tarooq (USA) 11-2 (9-7) Mid-division, outpaced and ridden over 2f out, never on terms, weakened final furlong, 8th of 10, 9l behind Pretend (8-6) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (2) in Dec.
Boom The Groom (IRE) 3-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, squeezed through to lead inside final furlong, all out, won at Lingfield 6f hcap (2) pol beating Firmdecisions (8-11) by nk, 11 ran.
Magnus Maximus 16-1 (9-3) Mid-division, some late headway, never nearer, 6th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Boom The Groom (9-4) at Lingfield 6f hcap (2) pol.
Hallelujah 12-1 (9-4) Held up in mid-division on outside, pushed along and headway on outer 2f out, strong run inside final furlong, went 2nd final 110 yards and closed near finish, just failed, 2nd of 12, shd behind Out Do (9-1) at Kempton 6f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Happy Valentine (SAF) (9-2) Led - weakened, 7th of 18, 4l behind For The Lads (9-2) at Greyville(SAF) 7f 2yo fll in Jul '13.