keen, tracked leaders, driven to lead inside final furlong, headed towards finish
led after 1f, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
led 1f, tracked leader after, ridden to lead and hung right over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
in touch, ridden and every chance 1f out, no extra towards finish
raced wide in touch, ran very wide into straight 2f out, driven to lead briefly towards finish, headed post
raced wide in rear, never a factor
held up, staying on when short of room and hampered over 1f out, not a danger after
slowly into stride, held up, ridden 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reached leaders
tracked leading pair, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, towards rear, short of room and badly hampered well over 1f out, switched left and effort inside final furlong, driven and kept on same pace
behind, kept on final furlong, never nearer
slowly into stride, behind, last into straight and plenty to do 2f out, came wide and ran on strongly to lead post
Punching is the obvious starting point here having won eased down at Southwell last time but he's been well held off similar marks here before and so we'll select MALAPROPISM to come home in front of that one and Ask Jenny. Mick Channon's 9-year-old has won off marks in the eighties in the past and while nowhere near that standard now the horse did take a course-and-distance handicap off 53 when last seen and can defy a modest 3lb rise today. The form of that win in October is yet to really be put to the test but the manner of the gelding's success suggested a small rise in the weights might not stop it from going in again. Punching bounced back from a spell in the doldrums when a comfortable winner at Southwell on Tuesday, but it's worth noting that the horse was tasting success for the third time at the Nottinghamshire track and has never won at Lingfield. Add that to the fact that the horse has been well beaten here off just a pound higher as recently as August and the case for the gelding weakens, although sprinters in form are always worthy of respect and if the he has simply come back to his best he can surely take a place at least. Ask Jenny has the assistance of Jamie Spencer in the saddle and if Patrick Morris's seven-year-old can build on the form of her last time out second at Wolverhampton she may take a hand in the finish off what should prove a manageable handicap mark. Embra is relatively unexposed and won an Ayr handicap off 58 in the summer. Racing here off a pound lower and better drawn than when running third at Kempton last time, the four-year-old gelding may be able to show his best form today and that would give him a chance. Golden Dixie is a formerly high-class sprinter in decline and age may have caught up with the ten-year-old and so for the selection we return to Malaproprism.
Punching 7-2 (9-3) Always prominent, led over 1f out, pushed clear inside final furlong, eased towards finish, won at Southwell 6f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs beating Dancing Welcome (8-12) by 3l, 12 ran.
Decider (USA) 7-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, ridden 1f out, ran on inside final furlong to lead near finish, won at Wolverhampton 5f sell stks (6) pol beating Grudge (9-3) by nk, 11 ran.
Lord Deevert 20-1 (8-6) Soon got across to lead, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Sister Clement (9-6) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Cosmic Destiny (IRE) 40-1 (7-11) Held up, raced wide, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not pace to trouble leaders, 7th of 14, 4l behind Magical Speedfit (8-4) at Brighton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Pocket's Pick (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden halfway, one pace from over 1f out, 5th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Ponting (9-3) at Southwell 6f mdn stks (5) fbs.
Golden Dixie (USA) 25-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out, 11th of 12, 7l behind Loyal Royal (8-11) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Oct.
Embra (IRE) 12-1 (8-7) Behind, outpaced 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, nearest finish, 3rd of 10, 1l behind Chandika (8-8) at Kempton 5f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
After The Show 18-1 (8-4) Mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, headway entering final 2f, weakened 1f out, 10th of 14, 8l behind Imprimis Tagula (9-3) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
Malapropism 2-1fav (8-12) Made all, 2l clear over 1f out, ridden out, won at Lingfield 6f app hcp 0-55 (6) pol in Oct beating Bountiful Bay (9-0) by 1l, 10 ran.
Pinball (IRE) 33-1 (9-2) Raced stands' side, held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 4th of 17, 3/4l behind Mission Impossible (8-8) at Nottingham 5f hcp 0-55 (6) sft.
Briannsta (IRE) 7-2fav (8-12) Pushed along in mid-division, never a factor, 7th of 13, 9l behind Fantasy Fighter (8-11) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (6) pol.
Ask Jenny (IRE) 14-1 (8-13) Held up in rear, headway on outer from 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on to chase winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Fantasy Fighter (8-11) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (6) pol.
