in touch, ridden along over 3f out, headway and effort over 1f out, stayed on one pace final furlong
soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened well inside final furlong
towards rear, headway over 2f out, kept on to take 3rd close home not to reach leaders
mid-division, lost place on inner over 4f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on to take 2nd well inside final furlong, not trouble winner
took keen hold, tracked leader to 3f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out
steadied start, took keen hold towards rear, some headway and in touch over 3f out, soon ridden and weakened over 2f out
took keen hold in mid-division, chased leaders 3f out, hanging badly right from 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, clear final furlong, driven out
steadied start, held up in rear, ridden along over 4f out, no impression from over 2f out
Little Richard comes here in the best form and the mount of Adam Kirby is fancied to come out on top at the main expense of Smokey The Bear and George Henson. The selection comes here on the back of a good course and distance success and he has been holding his form well all winter. He has a good attitude and his jockey knows him as well as anyone else. Medieval Maiden ran well last time out at Wolverhampton behind Fresh Mint but his strike rate suggests that he is not the most consistent of horses, so a more eminent danger may be Smokey The Bear who finished behind the selection last time out and has a handy pull in the weights today. Wee Charlie Castle returns from a run over hurdles, whilst Street Life is another course and distance winner who may bounce back to form. At a price Mixing could run better than recently, however it is Little Richard who gets the nod to win again.
Little Richard (IRE) 11-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, led narrowly 1f out, headed entering final furlong, driven to regain lead final 100 yards, all out, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol beating Under Fire (8-10) by a nk, 11 ran.
Medieval Maiden 3-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, effort 3f out, chased winner inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Fresh Mint (9-7) at W'hampton 1m 4f fll hcp (5) pol.
Amwell Brave 16-1 (9-0) Steadied start, took keen hold, held up behind, ridden over 2f out, no headway, 9th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Resplendent Ace (9-2) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Wee Charlie Castle (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, effort over 1f out, not quicken and one pace final furlong, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind dhtrs Noah Jameel (8-9) & Sir Haydn (9-6) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Bandits Pistol (NZ) 80-1 (9-1) Behind, ridden and outpaced 4f out, kept on final 2f, never nearer, 6th of 10, 10l behind Watchmaker (9-2) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Raydan (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) Keen in touch, ridden 3f out, hampered on bend over 2f out, not recover, last of 8, 18l behind Wind Flow (9-1) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
King of Diamonds 33-1 (8-12) Steadied start, pulled hard in rear, ridden over 3f out, no impression until kept on from over 1f out, 7th of 10, 11l behind Watchmaker (9-2) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Mixing 7-1 (8-8) Raced keenly in touch, pressed leader 3f out, not quicken over 1f out, faded well inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Little Richard (9-2) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol.
George Henson (IRE) 11-4 (9-0) Steadied at start, held up in rear, headway over 4f out, ridden to lead well over 1f out, kept on final furlong, won at Southwell 1m 4f app clm (6) fbs beating Nabir (9-4) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
