in touch towards rear, pushed along and headway to lead inside final furlong, ran on, comfortable
soon led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
tracked leader, ridden inside final furlong, kept on, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, pushed along 2f out, ridden and weakened inside final furlong
steadied start, held up in rear, pushed along and headway over 1f out, not clear run and switched right inside final furlong, kept on
raced wide tracked leaders, ran very wide into straight 2f out, soon eased
The handicapper would have had a hard time re-assessing STRONG POWER, who was a long way out of the handicap when completing a double in course record time here on Friday. He has a 10lb penalty to carry but a similar performance should see the hat-trick completed. Lothian was beaten two-and-a-half lengths in the first of those races and should make a race of it with an 11lb pull but fourth-placed Mick's Spirit and Hey Ho Let's Go, who was eighth, look held. Three of Storm Melody's 10 career victories have come here including when just hanging on from 3lb lower last month while Lethal Blast completed a hat-trick here in the spring, the latest on Turf, and also won at Windsor in August. She's not badly treated with her rider's claim taken into consideration.
Strong Power (IRE) 11-4 (8-2) Chased leaders, effort over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Lingfield 5f hcp (2) pol in Jan beating Marnie James (8-2) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Lethal Blast 33-1 (8-11) Quickly away, led, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, weakened final furlong, last of 10, 4 1/2l behind Rose Hip (9-7) at Lingfield 5f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Storm Melody 13-2 (9-8) Led early, prominent, quickened to lead approaching 2f out, ridden 2 length clear entering final furlong, ridden out, won at Lingfield 5f hcp (6) pol in Dec beating Desert Lime (9-0) by shd, 7 ran.
Lothian 25-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders, ridden and headway inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Strong Power (9-7) at Lingfield 5f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Mick's Spirit 3-1 (9-7) Raced wide close up, slightly hampered after 1f, chased leader 2f out, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 9, 5l behind Strong Power (9-7) at Lingfield 5f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Hey Ho Let's Go 33-1 (9-3) Raced wide edged right after 1f, soon tracked leader, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 9 3/4l behind Strong Power (9-7) at Lingfield 5f hcp (6) pol in Jan.