tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on towards finish, never able to challenge
led after 1f, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakening when not much room inside final furlong
race wide towards rear, progress when switched inside 2f out, ridden and no impression final furlong
soon outpaced, behind when heavily eased final 2f
led 1f, chased leader, driven to lead again over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, led inside final furlong, asserted near finish
towards rear, ridden and headway on inside over 1f out, stayed on near finish
reared start, slowly into stride, soon switched left, in rear, headway on inside when nowhere to go throughout final furlong
in rear, ridden 2f out, keeping on when not clear run inside final furlong
OBE BRAVE landed a touch last time and can strike again whilst the iron's hot from Tamino and Muktasb. Lee Smyth's runner was backed at big prices before returning home the 7/1 winner of a race at Wolverhampton, picking up the penalty he carries here in the process. Today's drop back to six furlongs and switch to Lingfield places a greater emphasis on speed which means this is no formality, but he has won three times at the trip and could get away with it against a modest bunch. Tamino has the assistance of Shane Kelly in the saddle today and certainly enters calculations. The gelding made all to win here towards the end of 2009 and similar tactics were adopted last time as he took second at Wolverhampton. Both those efforts show that six furlongs is not a problem and Shane Kelly is more than capable of riding a shrewd race from the front, so Paul Howling's runner must be taken very seriously and indeed was only narrowly overlooked. Muktasb is a specialist at the trip and can be expected to arrive with his customary late flourish. He's actually down a couple of pounds for taking second last time and he's won here off higher marks. Spoof Master has disappointed the last twice but enters the reckoning on his half-length second prior to that, an effort that came over course and distance. We feel he's better at the minimum trip though so of more interest is Captain Kallis who could hit them all for six if returning to his form of 12 months ago. Diane's Choice can only benefit for the step down in trip and the last time she raced over six she won, so her each way credentials are there for all to see whilst Hatman Jack has often promised to be a bit better than this mark and we may yet find that he is. This is a pretty open handicap but Obe Brave can follow up his last time out success.
Tamino (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Led, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 12, nk behind Miss Firefly (10-6) at Wolverhampton 6f am hcp 0-55 (6) pol.
Spoof Master (IRE) 33-1 (9-3) Led, headed over 2f out, weakened quickly, last of 7, 7l behind Interchoice Star (9-3) at Wolverhampton 6f sell stks (6) pol in Jan.
Captain Kallis (IRE) 9-2 (8-10) Tracked leader, led 2f out to over 1f out, ridden and one pace final furlong, 5th of 6, 4 1/2l behind Don Pele (8-11) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Sign of The Cross 10-1 (9-7) Held up in touch, weakened 2f out, last of 13, 18l behind Final Drive (9-12) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Crystal B Good (USA) 20-1 (9-4) Towards rear, ridden 3f out, eased over 1f out, last of 11, 27l behind Tanley (8-8) at Lingfield 6f Handicap (0-58) (4yo+) (6) pol in Jan.
Hatman Jack (IRE) 7-1 (8-9) Always towards rear, 8th of 9, 4l behind After The Show (8-11) at Lingfield 5f Handicap (0-62) (4yo+) (6) pol in Jan.
Diane's Choice 14-1 (9-0) Held up, towards rear, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 6th of 13, 5l behind Harting Hill (9-3) at Kempton 7f Handicap (0-58) (4yo+) (6) pol.
Cardinal 11-1 (9-0) Soon led, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened, 10th of 13, 14l behind Fantasy Fighter (8-11) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Muktasb (USA) 4-1 (8-0) Chased leaders, effort to challenge on inside 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden and kept on final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 6, ns behind Don Pele (8-11) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Kalligal 16-1 (9-8) Dwelt, behind, headway over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, never on terms, 4th of 7, 1 1/4l behind Ajjaadd (9-13) at Lingfield 5f mdn stks (5) pol.
Diddums 14-1 (8-2) Behind, outpaced 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 12, 4l behind Sherjawy (8-6) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Obe Brave 7-1 (8-9) Led 1f and pulled hard, soon settled in mid-division, headway on inner over 1f out, not much room and switched right final furlong, soon led, kept on and held on well, won at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-52 (6) pol beating Ride A White Swan (8-10) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
