mid-division, ridden 3f out, stayed on final furlong, never dangerous
held up, headway over 4f out, effort going well over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong
always prominent, stayed on under pressure to lead close home
held up in rear, stayed on final furlong, never nearer
raced wide throughout, never able to challenge
took keen hold in touch, lost place 5f out, ridden and headway 3f out, stayed on final furlong, never dangerous
mid-division, headway on inside over 1f out, stayed on under pressure
chased leader until ridden and weakened quickly over 1f out
held up, staying on towards rear when not much room and checked over 1f out
led, ridden over 1f out, headed and not quicken close home
behind, headway under pressure on outside over 1f out, stayed on
mid-division, headway 5f out, chased leaders approaching final furlong, soon weakened
Compton Commander, 1lb higher than for his latest win, is stepping back up to 12 furlongs today, a trip he has won over twice. He is a course winner but both wins (in claimers) have come when equipped with a visor, which is absent today. Danakil notched a double in September but is now 5lbs higher than his best winning mark, although he is a course and distance winner and is entitled to go well. Brilliant Red has winning form at Lingfield, has also won from a mark of 97 (84 today) but not at 12 furlongs. He will be racing for a new stable today and has a three-month break to overcome. French import Sphinx ran respectably on his British debut and now switches from the Turf. He won at Longchamp in April, albeit in a claimer. Sir Ninja was ran respectably when seventh in the November Handicap on his latest run. He's not badly handicapped on the best of his form but has not won since 1999 and is a newcomer to the surface. Turtle Valley might not find this a big enough stamina test. Barman is three pounds better off with Mcbain for the half-length he was beaten by that horse on his latest run over course and distance, while Rainbow d'Beaute (a short head ahead of Barman that day) meets him on the same terms. Both are lightly raced and entitled to be improving and have to come into the reckoning here. Well Chosen and Rainbow d'Beaute won divisions of the same 13-furlong maiden at this track on 4 October. The latter ran the faster time but both are lightly raced and still open to improvement. Porak is in good form, won well on the Turf recently and has every right to be competitive from his current mark on his first run on the Polytrack surface. Street Life has won three times at Windsor on going with give in it. His only run on the surface was a modest one. Mystic Forest now races from 6lb higher mark than for his June course and distance win. Catterick winner (rated 67, now 74) Classic Role is lightly raced and entitled to be improving but is untried at Lingfield. Christmas Truce has won three of 10 career starts, the last at Hamilton, and races from just a 1lb higher here than for that last win. He has tried further since then but has not raced on the Polytrack yet. It's a fascinating but tricky race, with a tentative TEAMtalk nod going to McBain, who looks set for further improvement.
