Khawatim left his recent form behind along with Gabrial's Gift and Belle Bayardo when backed off the boards and scoring over C&D last time. He remains well treated on his best efforts but Picansort has yet to win off a mark as high as today's having gone in at Lingfield during the week. This looks tougher than the claimer Dark Lane won at Kempton when Fairy Wing was way off the pace so a punt is taken on AL KHAN as he's now 23lb lower than when starting last season and is dropping down a grade after a recent fourth at Kempton.
Khawatim 5-4fav (9-3) Held up behind, driven and headway over 1f out, squeezed through between horses inside final furlong, ridden and ran on to lead final stride, won at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol beating Strong Man (8-12) by nk, 11 ran.
Gabrial's Gift (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Mid-division, ridden and headway on outside over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 1l behind Khawatim (9-3) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Courageous (IRE) 4-1 (8-13) Towards rear, ridden entering final furlong, kept on same pace, 7th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Red Cape (8-9) at Wolverhampton 6f clm stks (6) pol in Oct.
Blue Jack 20-1 (8-6) Led, headed inside final furlong, weakened quickly, 8th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Kickingthelilly (9-2) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Picansort 11-4 (8-13) Chased leaders on outside, ridden in 3rd halfway, in 3 lengths lead and running on well as runners came into view final 100 yards, won at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol beating The Strig (9-7) by 3l, 7 ran.
Dark Lane 9-4 (8-9) Tracked leading trio, effort on inside 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden and stayed on well final furlong, held on, won at Kempton 6f clm stks 0-75 (6) pol beating Dixie Gwalia (8-3) by nk, 6 ran.
Al Khan (IRE) 14-1 (8-11) Slowly away, well off the pace in last trio, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 4th post, 4th of 8, 6l behind Diamond Charlie (9-2) at Kempton 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Belle Bayardo (IRE) 6-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden and effort over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 11, 1 3/4l behind Khawatim (9-3) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Fairy Wing (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Held up in 5th, outpaced over 3f out, soon beaten, 5th of 6, 8l behind Dark Lane (8-9) at Kempton 6f clm stks 0-75 (6) pol.
My Own Way Home 9-2 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 1f out, kept on same pace under pressure final furlong, 4th of 7, 1 1/2l behind Restless Bay (9-5) at Lingfield 6f hacp 0-70 (5) pol.
