mid-division, ridden 2f out, no impression until stayed on final furlong, never dangerous
raced wide in touch, ridden 3f out, soon outpaced, kept on under strong pressure final furlong
slowly into stride, pulled hard well in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on to go 2nd well inside final furlong, not reached winner
slowly into stride, soon in mid-division, ridden 3f out, no impression
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
led, ridden and headed entering final furlong, soon weakened
held up in touch, effort from over 1f out, driven to lead well inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader well over 1f out, led entering final furlong, headed well inside final furlong
pulled hard well in rear, ridden and stayed on final furlong, nearest finish
with leader, ridden and every chance from 2f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong
slowly into stride, mainly in rear
held up, mainly in rear
Nonrunner
WOODEN KING, Loyal Royal and Ardent Prince form a topically named short-list for this handicap. We've opted for David Evans' runner in this handicap as he comes into the race in good form and ran better last time than the form figures suggest. That run was over a mile which stretched him and he was also hampered close home but he returns to the trip over which he scored on his penultimate start and can go in again. Loyal Royal appeals as more of an each-way option as he needs the cards to fall right in order to get his head in front. That has only happened once on the all-weather but he's threatening to get his head in front again and could be in the mix. Ardent Prince's latest effort at Wolverhampton can be ignored as he was hampered at the start and his previous efforts at Dunstall Park put him firmly in the picture. This is his first run at Lingfield so it remains to be seen how he handles this track and that's reason enough to side with Wooden King instead.
Melt (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Held up in rear, pushed along 3f out, soon weakened, 11th of 12, 10l behind General Feeling (9-4) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Comrade Cotton 7-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, headway to track leaders halfway, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Smokey Rye (8-2) at Lingfield 1m app clm (6) pol in Dec.
Loyal Royal (IRE) 15-2 (10-13) Slowly into stride, held up behind, headway well over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Muktasb (11-4) at W'hampton 6f amt hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Too Grand 20-1 (9-1) Raced wide, always in rear, last of 11, 10l behind General Feeling (9-4) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan.
Kannon 11-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden over 2f out, driven and one pace final furlong, 5th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Alf Tupper (9-5) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan.
Wooden King (IRE) 4-1 (8-11) Raced keenly, soon led, ridden 2f out, headed 1f out, keeping on when short of room and snatched up close home, 7th of 9, 3l behind Herbert Crescent (9-5) at Lingfield 1m app hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Ardent Prince 9-2 (9-1) Hampered start, held up in rear, not clear run over 2f out, no impression, eased inside final furlong, 10th of 12, 15l behind Snow Dancer (8-7) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Torquemada (IRE) 11-2 (8-2) Held up, headway 2f out, ridden and every chance 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Divertimenti (9-5) at Lingfield 7f app hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Copperwood 13-2 (8-8) Steadied start, held up in rear, headway on wide outside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 3rd towards finish, finished well, 3rd of 11, 3l behind General Feeling (9-4) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan.
Cavalry Guard (USA) 15-2 (8-7) Slowly away, soon led, headed 2f out, soon hard driven, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Highly Regal (9-6) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Jan.
Affirmatively 20-1 (8-9) Soon tracking leader, ridden 2f out, weakened soon after, last of 10, 11l behind Hollow Jo (9-0) at Kempton 6f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Princess Teddy (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden and kept on same pace from 2f out, 5th of 16, 3 1/2l behind Damasque (9-1) at Gowran Park 7f hcp 0-60 gs in Aug.
Bollywood Style 7-2fav (8-8) Pulled hard towards rear, ridden and never dangerous final 2f, 8th of 9, 5l behind Herbert Crescent (9-5) at Lingfield 1m app hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Waterloo Dock 5-1 (8-12) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, kept on under pressure, lost 2nd inside final furlong and 3rd final strides, 4th of 12, 10l behind Highly Regal (8-8) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Jan.
