pulled hard, in touch, headway over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, never able to challenge
chased leader, effort 2f out, soon lost place
steadied in rear but in touch, under pressure over 2f out, soon beaten
tracked leader, driven to challenge over 1f out, soon no impression
made all, quickened over 2f out, hard ridden over 1f out, ran on well
Commanche steps up in trip after landing a recent double over 6f but won his maiden over today's distance and should be thereabouts. Paphos went close over 1m2f here recently but looks high enough in the weights now and Spitfire's latest win on the Fibresand at Southwell was his first on the all-weather in 13 attempts. Yankee Storm will have come on for last month's outing here but the vote goes to MUHANDIS, who went close again last time having won over C&D on his penultimate start.
Muhandis (IRE) 4-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never reached winner, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Al's Memory (9-0) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Yankee Storm 8-1 (9-1) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on well, never nearer, 4th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Storm Runner (8-5) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Spitfire 5-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, driven and headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Southwell 6f hcp (0-65) (6) fbs in Nov beating Holy Angel (8-11) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Commanche 4-5fav (9-6) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, led post, won at Lingfield 6f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec beating Catalinas Diamond (9-7) by shd, 10 ran.
Paphos 6-4 (9-0) Chased leading trio, ridden 4f out, soon went 3rd, went 2nd over 2f out, strong challenge inside final furlong, every chance when carried right well inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 6, shd behind Electrician (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f sell stks (6) pol.