towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace
in touch, ridden over 2f out, came wide to home straight, lost place and stayed on again
in touch, soon chasing leader, led 3f out, headed 1f out, faded close home
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, led briefly 1f out, no extra
soon led, headed 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
held up, headway 2f out, kept on to lead well inside final furlong, ridden out
held up, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten
in touch, ridden over 1f out, weakened soon after
MONTBRETIA is unexposed and worth chancing here. Formation and Lady Jane Digby are others with claims, while Grand Passion is a reliable yardstick but has struggled in handicaps of late, so needs luck on his side on these terms. As Mark Johnston send only a couple down to Lingfield from Middleham today; Lady Jane Digby needs to do her bit to help pay the travelling expenses bill. Still, she is a consistent filly and deserves to pick up another race before too long. However, she has failed to get the better of Formation on a couple of occasions and it may be down to the Jim Boyle-trained gelding to give the selection the most to do. However, Montbretia looks the pick of Henry Cecil's duo on jockey bookings and, as we have yet to see the best of this Monjeu filly, she gets the push as a solid choice in this company.
Grand Passion (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Mid-division, hit rail 6f out, ridden over 2f out, outpaced and weakened over 1f out, 14th of 16, 13l behind Greylami (8-12) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Mar.
Formation (USA) 7-2 (9-1) Held up in rear, in touch, hampered over 1f out, stayed on to chase winner well inside final furlong but no impression, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Press The Button (9-2) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (3) pol in Apr.
Montbretia 7-2fav (9-9) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, driven over 1f out, headed 1f out, no impression on winner inside final furlong, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Storyland (9-2) at Goodwood 1m 4f fll hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Ancient Lights 7-2 (9-3) Steadied start, last, close up, went 3rd over 4f out, ridden 3f out, soon beaten, 3rd of 4, 35l behind Pampas Cat (9-3) at Leicester 1m 2f 3yo stk (3) gd in Jul.
Safari Sunup (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, not much room approaching 2f out, weakened and soon eased, 17th of 20, 14l behind Duncan (9-7) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (2) gd in Apr.
Whitcombe Minister (USA) 10-1 (9-3) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 2f out, last of 16, 27l behind Greylami (8-12) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Mar.
Lady Jane Digby 4-1fav (8-9) Tracked leader, joined leader over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, 5th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Formation (8-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcap (2) pol in Feb.
Intabih (USA) 13-2 (9-4) Mid-division, weakened over 2f out, eased over 1f out, last of 12, well behind Unbreak My Heart (9-4) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Apr.
Beauchamp Viceroy 9-2 (9-0) Taken to post early, keen held up, headway approaching 1f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, kept on same pace towards finish, 5th of 8, 3/4l behind Sgt Schultz (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Mar.
Cupid's Glory 9-2 (8-12) Slowly into stride, always in rear, behind final 2f, last of 6, well behind Sgt Schultz (9-0) at Great Leighs 1m 2f hcp (3) pol in Dec.
