slowly into stride, soon tracking leaders, led 2f out, headed 1f out, one pace
in touch, strongly ridden to lead 1f out, driven out
hung right, led, ridden 2f out, soon headed, weakened
held up and keen, driven 4f out, some progress from 2f out
soon switched left,with leaders, weakened over 3f out
held up, headway on inside 2f out, ridden and every chance 1f out, no extra
in touch and keen, ridden and every chance 1f out, no extra
reared start, keen in rear, short lived effort over 1f out
Parkview Love can be expected to go close but Lord Theo is preferred ahead of Bee Stinger. A repeat of the slow start that ruined Lord Theo's chances on his latest outing in October would be a concern but he is handicapped to win a race of this nature and looks well worth chancing with his yard going so well. Parkview Love should also be winning before long and he comes into the race on the back of a fair effort at Kempton whilst Derek Shaw's string continues to perform creditably. Bee Stinger failed to win in 2007 but is back down to a feasible mark as a result and he wasn't beaten too far over this course and distance on his latest start; he should be in the mix if he can build on that. Bertie Southstreet will pop up one of these days but isn't one for maximum faith, Putra Laju has been running well this winter and also enters the equation in a tricky heat, the selection, though, is Lord Theo.
Lord Theo 16-1 (8-7) Behind, stayed on well from over 1f out, nearest finish, 3rd of 10, 3/4l behind Just Bond (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Oct.
Bee Stinger 25-1 (8-12) In touch on inner, ridden and outpaced over 1f out, stayed on again inside final furlong and closed on leaders near finish, 4th of 12, 1l behind Alfresco (9-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Music Note (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Chased leaders in 4th, ridden to lead briefly inside final 2f, weakened final furlong, 6th of 11, 5l behind Don't Panic (9-7) at Goodwood 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Sept.
Bertie Southstreet 7-1 (9-1) Took keen hold towards rear, short of room over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 7th of 14, 4l behind Reeling N' Rocking (8-13) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Winged Flight (USA) 16-1 (8-5) Tracked leaders until ridden and weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 8l behind Vainglory (8-5) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Nov.
Onenightinlisbon (IRE) 25-1 (8-10) Towards rear, effort over 2f out, kept on, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Blacktoft (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Parkview Love (USA) 12-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, shaken up over 1f out, no extra, 3rd of 12, 2l behind Blacktoft (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Putra Laju (IRE) 7-2 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden and edged left 2f out, no extra final furlong, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Arthur's Edge (8-5) at W'hampton 1m 1f app hcp (5) pol.