tracked leader, effort well over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, never a factor
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, kept on same pace
mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon ridden to challenge, every chance when hung right inside final furlong, no extra
mid-division, headway over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, ran on to lead last strides
led, 4 lengths clear well over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, weakened quickly
chased leaders, effort over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, headed close home
chased leaders, weakened 2f out
held up towards rear, headway on inside over 1f out, soon every chance, kept on same pace final furlong
Most of these have been taking each other on in similar contests over the winter. Loyalty ended last year in fine form beating Night Lily a neck over C&D and was only beaten a nose by Mia's Boy before that with Hazzard County behind. You could have thrown a blanket over runner-up Lockantanks, Mr Willis, Numeral and Tarooq over track and trip a fortnight ago and there's little between recent 7f winner Chilli Green and Sunset Kitty on collateral form. Crown Counsel was winning at this time last year, but it's anybody's guess who'll come out best of the above so we'll take a chance on CRYSTAL GAL. She's having her first start since September, but Lucy Wadham's Listed race winner is certainly good enough if anywhere near her best for her Polytrack debut.
Loyalty 5-1 (9-3) Slowly away in rear, headway entering final furlong, ran on between horses to lead near finish, won at Lingfield 1m stks (3yo+) (3) pol in Dec beating Night Lily (8-7) by nk, 10 ran.
Mia's Boy 13-2 (9-5) Held up in rear, headway final furlong, never on terms, 5th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Mull Of Killough (9-1) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Jan.
Crystal Gal (IRE) (9-1) 4th of 8, 2 3/4l behind Khor Sheed (8-9) at Milan(ITY) 1m flls Group 3 stks (1) gs in Sep.
Hazzard County (USA) 11-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, switched right to outside well over 1f out, edged left and stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd final 110 yards, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Piscean (9-0) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol.
Lockantanks 11-2 (9-7) In touch, ridden and headway entering final furlong, driven and stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, just held on to 2nd, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Amitola (9-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol.
Mr Willis 18-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, switched right over 1f out, ridden and ran on strongly towards finish, nearest finish, 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Amitola (9-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol.
Night Lily (IRE) 8-1 (8-8) Raced keenly tracking leaders, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 3 1/2l behind Mull Of Killough (9-1) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Jan.
Chilli Green 7-2fav (9-2) Prominent, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to lead close home, won at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Masai Moon (9-2) by hd, 10 ran.
Tarooq (USA) 9-2fav (9-2) Tracked winner, ridden 2f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 10, 1 3/4l behind Amitola (9-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol.
Sunset Kitty (USA) 10-1 (8-13) Tracked leading trio, ridden 3f out, badly hampered approaching 2f out, soon eased, 7th of 8, 43l behind Emerald Wilderness (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Jan.
Numeral (IRE) 9-2fav (9-0) Tracked winner, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 1 1/2l behind Amitola (9-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol.
Crown Counsel (IRE) 33-1 (8-11) Prominent, weakened well over 2f out, eased, 19th of 21, 31l behind Bonnie Brae (8-11) at Doncaster 7f hcp 105 (2) sft in Nov.
