steadied start, held up in rear, some late headway, never nearer
steadied start, held up, never dangerous
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, under pressure over 1f out, stayed on strongly to lead close home
set strong pace, hung right under pressure approaching final furlong, headed and no extra last strides
mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon no impression
chased leaders, effort over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
chased leaders, lost place halfway
Welease Bwian just held off Pour La Victoire over 6f at Kempton and they meet on the same terms with the winner's claimer taken into consideration. But the runner-up was having his first ever start over the minimum trip when just touched off by Temple Road here last week and looks capable of reversing the form. Pearl Noir is 9lb higher than his victory at Kempton last month while Top Offer is having his 22nd start and first over a trip this short. Pensax Lad has had 37 starts and won once and that was on Turf so the vote goes to ROYAL ACQUISITION, who has won three times in his career, all on Polytrack over this trip. Dreams Of Glory is always worthy of consideration though he's never won from a mark this high.
Clear Praise (USA) 8-1 (8-11) Steadied start, held up towards rear, headway on inside over 1f out, kept on same pace and no impression inside final furlong, 8th of 12, 4l behind Soaring Spirits (9-3) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Dec.
Trader Jack 50-1 (8-2) In touch, lost place over 3f out, eased 2f out, last of 6, well behind Starfield (8-5) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-95 (3) fbs.
Pour La Victoire (IRE) 5-2fav (9-4) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, chasing leaders, when hung left under pressure inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 8, nk behind Temple Road (9-0) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Top Offer 7-2 (9-4) Held up in rear, headway to chase leaders over 4f out, went 2nd over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Multitask (9-6) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Pensax Lad (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Slowly away, raced wide pulled hard in rear, hampered entering final 3f, ridden and headway entering final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 10, 1 1/2l behind Scoreline (8-7) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) in Dec.
Dreams Of Glory 16-1 (9-3) Keen tracked leader, edged right and led approaching final furlong, driven out, won at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec beating Birdie Queen (9-7) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Welease Bwian (IRE) 7-1 (8-9) Dwelt, behind, headway over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, never able to challenge, 3rd of 8, 1/2l behind Temple Road (9-0) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Pearl Noir 16-1 (9-2) Led, soon 5 lengths clear, ridden over 1f out, headed post, 2nd of 8, ns behind Caminel (9-3) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Give Us A Belle (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) Pushed along to lead, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 4th of 8, 1l behind Pharoh Jake (9-5) at Lingfield 5f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec.
Royal Acquisition 16-1 (8-11) In rear, ridden 2f out, never dangerous, 9th of 10, 6l behind Diamond Charlie (9-6) at Kempton 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
