tracked leaders in 4th, weakened 1f out
led early, tracked leader, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened entering final furlong
held up and keen, soon in rear, headway and switched left to inner over 1f out, soon ridden, led entering final furlong, caught post
soon led, ridden and headed entering final furlong, rallied inside final furlong, caught post
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden inside final furlong, kept on towards finish
Prince Of Thebes is the pace angle here but his best form is at further so we'll side with BILLBERRY ahead of Halsion Chancer. Stuart Williams' gelding is up just 2lbs for a game win last time. That was the grey's second course and distance win and as he's shown the pace to score over six he'll cope should this turn tactical, so in a race that is tricky to solve despite the low turnout he rates the most likely victor in our book. Prince Of Thebes made all to score over a mile at the track in January and we can expect similar tactics dropping back to seven. The nine-year-old remains fairly treated and has won over seven - albeit in 2005 - so the others will need to ensure he isn't allowed too much rope out in front. We feel he might need to go a gallop and that will set the race up for our selection and Halsion Chancer to swoop past late on. The last named made a pleasing return from a winter break when second last time and should improve for the extra furlong here. The gelding has scored over course and distance off this mark in the past and it's far from impossible to believe a repeat may happen. Jake The Snake coped well with the drop back to six furlongs last time whilst indicating a return to this trip would help, so whilst we feel he's a shade high in the weights there will be those that disagree. Spinning Bailiwick has done well over the past two months but her mark reflects that, so she looks held carrying top weight in this field and we'll return to Billberry.
Spinning Bailiwick 14-1 (9-1) Steadied start, soon switched right, held up in rear, badly hampered just over 2f out, no chance after, 7th of 8, well behind Dingaan (9-1) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Halsion Chancer 12-1 (8-10) Held up, towards rear, switched right and headway well over 1f out, soon chasing winner, stayed on strongly, just failed, 2nd of 7, hd behind Billy Red (9-3) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Jake The Snake (IRE) 7-2 (9-2) Towards rear, headway over 1f out, soon switched left, kept on to chase winner inside final furlong, always held, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind New Leyf (8-11) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Prince Of Thebes (IRE) 12-1 (8-13) Led after 1f, headed 5f out, tracked leader, regained lead 2f out, soon headed weakened final furlong, 6th of 12, 4l behind Gaily Noble (8-10) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Billberry 13-8fav (9-4) Close up in 4th, good headway on inside well over 1f out, led over 1f out, soon driven, weakening towards finish, held on, won at Lingfield 7f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Jan beating Waterloo Dock (8-7) by nk, 8 ran.
