towards rear, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
towards rear, ridden 3f out, eased over 1f out
tracked leaders, weakened inside final furlong
towards rear, pushed along before halfway, headway over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
in rear, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong
tracked leader, led 2f out, headed inside last, kept on same pace
prominent, led inside final furlong, driven out
towards rear, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
mid-division, weakened over 1f out
With plenty of early pace likely, we favour SPOOF MASTER to take the opener at the expense of Golden Prospect and Equinity. The selection is better known around Kempton but he is dropping back to an entirely feasible handicap mark and if the tongue strap works, he has to be respected. Golden Prospect is tried in a visor rather than the blinkers he usually wears. A miler when trained by John Hills, Julia Tooth appears to think differently. Equinity represents a yard that have enjoyed a profitable couple of months and from a handicapping perspective she is almost a stone lower than she was at the same time last year. Music Box Express has only one way of running and that is to blast out and make all. Matthew Davies does get on well with George Baker's trailblazer. Mandhooma looks thoroughly lazy but Paul Doe won on him at Brighton last year and the jockey is reunited with him this afternoon. Tanley ran a much better race than his finishing position suggests at Wolverhampton. Oxbridge has been outpaced over five furlongs though may find this six a little more suiting to his style of racing. Spoof Master is selected in a race of very limited punting appeal.
Golden Prospect 9-1 (8-11) Held up towrds rear, effort over 2f out, never dangerous, 6th of 9, 8l behind Diapason (9-0) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec.
Crystal B Good (USA) 28-1 (9-2) Towards rear, never dangerous, 11th of 12, 10l behind Handsome Cross (9-3) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Music Box Express 16-1 (8-9) Quickly away, good speed, soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 6l behind Charlie Delta (8-11) at Wolverhampton 6f Handicap (0-63) (3yo+) (6) pol in Dec.
Waterloo Dock 14-1 (9-4) Led early, chased leader to over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened over 1f out, last of 9, 8l behind Trade Centre (9-4) at Lingfield 7f sell stks (6) pol in Dec.
Dream Express (IRE) 33-1 (8-13) Always in rear, 11th of 12, 13l behind Kipchak (9-4) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec.
Mandhooma 40-1 (8-7) Tracked winner until halfway, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 9l behind Ponting (8-5) at Southwell 6f clm stks (6) fbs in Dec.
Spoof Master (IRE) 11-1 (9-0) Chased leader until halfway, soon driven along, weakened final furlong, 7th of 11, 7l behind Pocket's Pick (9-4) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Dec.
Tanley 33-1 (8-1) Led 1f, chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 3l behind Welcome Approach (8-11) at Wolverhampton 6f Handicap (0-63) (3yo+) (6) pol in Dec.
Equinity 40-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, every chance over 1f out, driven and no extra close home, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Obe Gold (9-6) at Lingfield 6f sell stks (6) pol in Dec.
Oxbridge 33-1 (9-3) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, beaten over 1f out, 4th of 7, 8l behind The Wee Chief (9-3) at Kempton 6f mdn auc stks (6) pol in Nov.
Sunshine Ellie 50-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, never nearer, 6th of 9, 12l behind Brynfa Boy (9-3) at Wolverhampton 5f mdn auc stks (6) pol in Dec.
