raced keenly, led, steaded pace at halfway, ridden and headed well over 1f out, looked beaten when hampered and checked 1f out, kept on towards finish
held up in rear, headway on outside 7f out and in touch, ridden over 3f out, outpaced and lost touch over 2f out, tailed off final 2f
held up behind, ridden over 2f out, not quicken, outpaced over 1f out
raced keenly towards rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression on leaders over 1f out, kept on one pace
SLIP and Zero Cool are the two that we're interested in here although Blacktoft may also be able to give a good account. Slip has joined the Jim Boyle team from Marcus Tregoning but has yet to fire for his new connections including in blinkers last time. However, this is by far and away the easiest opportunity that he has been faced with and the drop in grade can see him achieve a first success for his new connections. Gary Moore's runners here always command respect and Zero Cool has a live chance at the weights. He has been beaten in similar events over course and distance the last twice and was behind Rapid City last time but is dangerous to dismiss. Rapid City could struggle to confirm the form at the weights whilst Blacktoft hasn't quite been hitting the heights of late so we'll take Slip to give the field the slip.
Slip 3-1 (8-8) Held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten, 5th of 7, 15l behind Grande Caiman (10-0) at Great Leighs 1m 5f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Dec.
Blacktoft (USA) 7-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, raced keenly, headway under pressure over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 11, 4l behind Direct Debit (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f clm (6) pol in Nov.
Rapid City 2-1fav (9-9) Held up in touch, pushed along 2f out, stayed on to take 3rd post, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Formidable Guest (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Dec.
Teasing 17-2 (9-4) Held up in rear, good headway to chase leaders over 6f out, ridden over 2f out kept on final furlong, 5th of 10, 2l behind Quick Off The Mark (8-7) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Tenement (IRE) 16-1 (8-7) Raced in 3rd until over 6f out, pushed along and struggling final 3f, last of 6, 9l behind Bridgewater Boys (8-7) at Lingfield 1m 2f clm (6) pol in Dec.
Zero Cool (USA) 2-1fav (9-2) In touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Rapid City (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f clm (6) pol in Dec.