close up in rear, headway to chase leader over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, readily
headway to lead 9f out, pushed along over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on
led 3f, tracked leader until pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on to go 3rd inside final furlong
raced wide tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, keeping on same pace and lost 3rd inside final furlong
keen close up, dropped to rear over 4f out, pushed along 2f out, no impression
Noble Expression and DUTCH UNCLE are clear of the rest on today’s terms. The former edges it at the weights but major doubts surround him after a couple of woeful efforts in November and the latter makes most appeal. Olly Murphy’s charge won a similar event over course and distance last month and found only one too good in handicap company back here a week ago. Contingency Fee and London Grammar have both been well beaten by the selection and the same fate awaits Sea Tea Dea on these terms.
Dutch Uncle 5-1 (9-10) Held up, headway and squeezed through 2f out, soon ridden, went 2nd well inside final furlong, not trouble winner, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Nylon Speed (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Contingency Fee 20-1 (9-0) Mid-division on outside, headway over 5f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 21 1/4l behind Your Band (9-3) at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Noble Expression 66-1 (9-1) In rear, well beaten final 2f, last of 11, 17 3/4l behind Villette (9-4) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
London Grammar (IRE) 66-1 (8-11) Bumped star, tracked leader, pushed along when short of room approaching final 2f, soon weakened, last of 5, 9 1/2l behind Dutch Uncle (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 4f stks (6) pol in Dec.
Sea Tea Dea 40-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, well behind, closer in 4th 5f out, went modest 3rd over 1f out, 3rd of 5, 14l behind Dalileo (9-3) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f stks (6) pol in Dec.