keen, in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
keen mid-division, pushed along 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
held up in rear, switched wide entering final 2f, soon ridden, driven and ran on strongly, to lead close home
held up in rear, wide and headway from over 3f out, led 2f out, headed and edged right well inside final furlong
tracked leader, led over 8f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up in last place, driven and headway on outer from over 1f out, led briefly well inside final furlong, kept on
soon led, headed over 8f out, tracked leader after, ridden over 3f out, no extra inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
As the only one with any winning form TRUE BRITANNIA is the obviously solution to this punting equation with Nicky Nutjob and Derringbay looking the others most likely. A three time winner in the all-weather sphere the selection easily has the best form of these runners. She struggled a little under a six pound penalty last time, a race from which the form has worked out well enough, and now at a much more realistic mark she can and should make it three from two over course and distance. Nicky Nutjob will carry joint top weight here and concedes four pounds to the pick. A few near misses have hinted at a modicum of ability but the form from those has been a little shaky. Derringbay is the one sharing top weight but the form from a solid effort on his latest trip to a racecourse is strong enough to force consideration. Good Buy Dubai and Peintre D'argent are two others to add to calculations based on at least some aptitude for winning shown but True Britannia looks set to record career win number four.
Nicky Nutjob (GER) 7-2 (9-0) Held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, 5th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Svindal (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Derringbay (IRE) 66-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, effort on inside over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Open Sesame (9-3) at Great Leighs 1m 1f 3yo mdn aut (6) pol in Jan.
Squad 66-1 (8-7) Held up in rear, some moderate headway over 1f out, never dangerous, 8th of 11, 7l behind Thief of Time (8-8) at Lingfield 1m mdn stk (5) pol in Jan.
True Britannia 13-2 (9-3) Held up, headway chased leader and effort over 2f out, not quicken over 1f out, stayed on one pace, 6th of 10, 7l behind Innactualfact (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Peintre d'Argent (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, in rear, headway 2f out, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, not trouble front pair, 3rd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Autumn Morning (8-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f 2yo clm (6) pol in Dec.
Maison d'Or 33-1 (9-3) Reared start, steadied in rear, never in contention, last of 12, 9l behind The Mumbo (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 3yo mdn aut (5) pol in Jan.
Good Buy Dubai (USA) 11-2 (8-9) Started slowly, towards rear, ridden and long over 2f out and plenty to do, strong run from over 1f out, finished well, nearest finish, 4th of 10, 6l behind Innactualfact (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Spring Quartet 20-1 (9-1) Chased leader, weakened over 3f out, 10th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Thewaytosanjose (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Calypso Prince 25-1 (7-12) Outpaced and soon well behind, last of 11, 16l behind Honest Value (9-6) at W'hampton 5f app stk (7) pol in Jan.
