Magen's Moon may find the ground too testing on her reappearance under a big weight but Born To Please was in cracking form at this time a year ago and won on the Flat on soft ground last month. Kentford Mallard has been tried over a variety of trips but her best recent run was over this distance at Chepstow when runner-up on soft going. SEXY LOT avoids a penalty for a facile victory in a conditionals' race at Ffos Las nine days ago and has been found another winning opportunity. Evita Du Mesnil had winning form in France but showed very little until changing stables and scoring on heavy going at Hexham. She's travelling a long way from Cumbria for this and looks the main threat.
Magen's Moon (IRE) 28-1 (12-0) Held up in rear on outside, headway 5th, outpaced next, soon weakened, 5th of 7, dist behind Early Morning Rain (11-8) at Lingfield 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
Born To Please 11-2 (9-4) Midfield, pushed along over 2f out, no extra, 5th of 12, 10 1/4l behind Bad Company (10-0) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Kentford Mallard 9-4fav (11-12) Rear early, headway halfway, went fourth after 7th, close up when ridden 2 out,not pace to challenge, finished 4th, disqualified - took wrong course, 4th of 9, 6 3/4l behind at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (5) hvy in Nov.
Sexy Lot (GER) 2-1fav (11-2) Hampered 1st and dropped to rear, headway 3 out, led omitted 2 out, not fluent last, ran on, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp (5) sft in Nov beating Sabbathical (11-12) by 8 1/2l, 9 ran.
Evita Du Mesnil (FR) 80-1 (10-12) In rear, smooth progress after 2 out, hit front before last, ridden after last, stayed on gamely, won at Hexham 2m hcp (5) hvy in Nov beating Grand Enterprise (10-6) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
