in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened and eased
led, headed and no extra inside final furlong
chased leaders over 6f
slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway on inside 2f out, soon ridden, ran on to lead inside final furlong
always prominent, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong
held up, headway 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced over 4f out
slowly into stride, keen, help up, switched right in headway over 2f out, soon ridden and one pace
held up in last place, headway over 1f out, nearest finish
Topton is in a bit of form at present and is the choice to beat Deeper In Debt, True Companion and Superchief. Topton has won no less than 16 times during his career, with four of those successes coming here at Lingfield, the most recent being at the start of December. He remains well treated compared to his turf form and it is hoped that he will fare better than at Southwell last time when he missed the break and had to be switched in the straight, eventually finishing third to Simply The Guest and Penwell Hill. Deeper In Debt was successful here in 2002 but his latest victories have come on the Turf at Bath and Brighton. He has been knocking on the door here lately though and is sure to be involved in the finish again. True Companion makes a bit of appeal for place purposes, but Jools will surely need the run after a long absence. Superchief and Acorazado receive weight from the rest but both have tougher tasks than of late, and in an open affair, Topton is taken to record another course victory.
