held up 5th on inside, short of room when hampered over 1f out, quickened to lead inside final furlong, driven out
tracked leaders, chasing leader when edged left over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra final 100 yards
led 9f out, ridden and headed 2f out, kept on pressing leader, weakened 1f out
raced keenly, always in rear, ridden and struggling over 2f out
started slowly, held up in rear, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, kept on final furlong without troubling leaders
led 1f, tracked leader afterwards, ridden to lead 2f out, pressed and headed inside final furlong, kept on towards finish
in touch, ridden and effort well over 1f out on outer, kept on inside final furlong, not reached leaders
PHOENIX FLIGHT looks capable of defying a break and a 6lb rise for his latest success and go in again here, while Summer Winds and Faithful Ruler can both make a race of it. Sir Mark Prescott saddles Phoenix Flight, who took a couple of races to get right after a 15 month break from the track, but on his third start in a month during October, he stayed on well to win over this trip at Great Leighs. Wisely he has been given some more time to recover from those exertions and after 11 weeks away he should be nicely refreshed and ready to win again. Summer Winds won his only race here, over course and distance, in maiden company 10 months ago. The assessor has just had the edge over him since then, and while he can go well from this competitive mark he remains vulnerable. Faithful Ruler was third in a weaker 9f Wolverhampton handicap last time and he should get home over this trip, but he does not look to be progessing and is thoroughly exposed. Halsion Chancer loves it here but did not quite get home over this trip last time and the jury is out regarding his stamina, so we are happy to stick with Phoenix Flight.
Basra (IRE) 9-1 (8-10) Took keen hold in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon weakend, 5th of 6, 7l behind Grande Caiman (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Dec.
Halsion Chancer 16-1 (9-5) Prominent, led after 1f, ridden when headed inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Bullet Man (8-11) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Dec.
Phoenix Flight (IRE) 2-1fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, angled out over 2f out, soon ridden, pressed leader just inside final furlong, driven and led towards finish, won at Great Leighs 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Oct beating Bluejain (9-1) by 1l, 10 ran.
McConnell (USA) 33-1 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden 4f out, weakened 2f out, last of 12, 23l behind Bullet Man (8-11) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Dec.
Kestrel Cross (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression, 11th of 15, 12l behind Opus Maximus (9-1) at Yarmouth 1m hcap (4) gd in Sept.
Summer Winds 2-1fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, driven and effort over 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Bluejain (9-4) at Great Leighs 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Faithful Ruler (USA) 8-1 (8-6) Mid-division, headway 2f out, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Spectait (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
