slowly away, behind, raced keenly, headway well over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, kept on same pace
held up mid-division, effort over 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, driven to challenge over 1f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, edged left under pressure, ridden out
tracked leaders, driven to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
with leader, took keen hold, led over 4f out, headed over 1f out, no extra final furlong
held up towards rear, driven, headway over 2f out, never able to challenge
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, lost place well over 1f out
slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden over 5f out, soon beaten
soon led, headed over 4f out, soon weakened
Arctic Desert has been running respectably of late and Gay Kelleway's gelding has to be respected but he may struggle to give weight away all round here and preference is for Pab Special, with Northern Desert rated the pick of the remainder. The selection has the highest rating of the nine runners and has been running pretty close to his mark in recent starts so gets the vote to resume winning ways dropped into selling company today. Dushstorm has given little sign of encouragement in two starts in this country, while Zaafira probably needs to improve to trouble the selection. Northern Desert has shown improved form in his last two starts and has to be considered but preference is for Pab Special who gets the vote.
Arctic Desert 5-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, pulled hard, not clear run well over 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, one pace, 4th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Confidentiality (9-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Bollywood (IRE) 16-1 (8-5) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, went 4th 2f out, stayed on same pace final 2f, never nearer, 4th of 11, 4l behind Dawson Creek (8-13) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Dec.
Dushstorm (IRE) 16-1 (8-5) Held up, effort over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened final furlong, 7th of 13, 10l behind Den's Gift (9-2) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Northern Desert (IRE) 5-1 (8-8) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, stayed on to chase winner inside final furlong, always held, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Ninth House (9-1) at Lingfield 1m app clm (6) pol in Dec.
Pab Special (IRE) 11-1 (8-13) Mid-division, stayed on steadily from over 1f out, never nearer, 6th of 14, 3l behind Reeling N' Rocking (8-13) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Salvestro 16-1 (8-6) Started very slowly, towards rear, late headway from 2f out, never dangerous, 6th of 13, 8l behind Bridgewater Boys (9-9) at Brighton 1m 2f sll hcp (6) gd in Oct.
Zaafira (SPA) 33-1 (8-7) Prominent, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 10, 8l behind Ninth House (9-1) at Lingfield 1m app clm (6) pol in Dec.
Katie Coniston 50-1 (8-0) Slowly into stride, headway over 2f out, weakened quickly over 1f out, 9th of 12, 12l behind Chin Wag (9-8) at Kempton 7f clm (6) pol in Oct.
Pink Salmon 66-1 (8-6) In touch, lost place over 2f out, 8th of 10, 15l behind King's Majesty (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f clm (6) pol in Dec.