raced wide, held up, headway on outer over 2f out, ridden and effort inside final furlong, stayed on
keen, tracked leaders, ridden to lead and edged left approaching final furlong, headed post
always in last place
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
always in rear, ridden halfway, never dangerous
pulled hard, soon led, ridden 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, no extra near finish
held up in rear, ridden halfway, never dangerous
pulled hard, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, effort inside final furlong, stayed on to lead post
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Tapas Lad drops back into the grade from which he won last time and he is our choice ahead of Arctic Desert and Trees Of Green. Tactics were changed with the selection last time when he adopted a position on the pace and that appeared not to suit. A high head carriage also indicates he is not the most straight forward of characters but hold up tactics here can see him land this. Arctic Desert is consistent but things just have to go his way at times. He does possess abit of class in comparison to most of these and is likely to be thereabouts. Trees Of Green holds the highest rating but did disappoint last time. He is unexposed in comparison to most of his rivals and can get in the mix. Another moderate contest and Tapas Lad is our selection.
Arctic Desert 3-1 (8-8) Steadied start, held up, pulled hard, headway over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 4 1/2l behind Ninth House (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f clm (5) pol.
Northern Desert (IRE) 2-1fav (9-4) Held up in rear, headway over 4f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 7, 15l behind Arctic Desert (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f sll (6) pol in Jan.
Blue Quiver (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Held up, ridden over 2f out, headway on inside over 1f out, one pace, 5th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Pelham Crescent (9-8) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct.
Doctor Ned 50-1 (9-0) Towards rear, headway on inner over 1f out, chased leading pair inside final furlong, no impression, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Mr Chocolate Drop (9-0) at Kempton 7f Stks (41-45) (7) pol.
Kazakstan 28-1 (8-7) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 13th of 14, 11l behind Guildenstern (8-13) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol.
Sendreni (FR) (8-10) Prominent, every chance, weakened final furlong, 10th of 18, 7l behind Altesse Imperiale (8-6) at Deauville 1m 1f std in Nov.
Stratn Jack 20-1 (8-11) Held up mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten, last of 10, 19l behind Lordswood (8-7) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Jan.
Naughty Thoughts (IRE) 13-2 (9-4) Always prominent, switched right well over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 8, 3l behind Mon Petite Amour (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f fll hcp (6) pol.
Tapas Lad (IRE) 13-2 (8-13) Pushed along to chase leaders, close up, led 3f out, headed 2f out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 12l behind Mischief Making (9-4) at Southwell 1m 3f 3yo hcp (5) fbs.
Trees of Green (USA) 10-1 (8-5) Prominent, lost place over 3f out, weakened quickly over 2f out, 10th of 11, 11l behind Bazroy (8-13) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Carry On Cleo 7-1 (8-5) Chased leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 6, 7l behind What's For Tea (8-7) at Lingfield 1m 3yo clm (6) pol.
