slowly into stride, headway and inside 2f out, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, ran on
mid-division, effort on inside over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
soon prominent on outside, ridden 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
prominent 3f
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up, ran on final furlong, nearest finish
prominent, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and no extra well inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, went 2nd briefly inside final furlong, stayed on
raced wide, towards rear, never dangerous
Wicked Uncle has been knocking on the door lately and can take this from Saviours Spirit, Law Maker and Qadar. The selection is back on his last winning mark and goes well at the minimum trip. Admittedly he has never won here, but he has won over the trip on Wolverhampton's polytrack and has a sizeable weight reversal with Law Maker, by whom he was beaten here last time, and certainly enough to suggest that he can get his nose in front. Law Maker has gone up 8lb since that win and has failed to follow up under the extra burden in three subsequent starts. He will have to wait his turn to win again. Saviours Spirit is in a rich vein of form and looks the biggest danger. The Terry Mills-trained gelding is upped 4lb for a second win in succession here over 6f, but is also effective over the minimum trip and is very high on the short list to complete a hat-trick, though just opposed due to that handicap mark. Of the others Qadar showed signs of better form over this trip at Wolverhampton last time, though he has gone up despite the defeat and we prefer Wicked Uncle to have the last laugh.
Qadar (IRE) 8-1 (8-8) Prominent, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 7, shd behind Fyodor (9-7) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
Intriguing Glimpse 6-1 (9-0) Held up, good headway to join main group 3f out, hard ridden and chased leaders over 1f out, not quicken, 6th of 16, 3l behind Jayanjay (8-13) at Brighton 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gs in Oct.
Zarzu 10-1 (8-4) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 9, 3l behind Les Arcs (8-13) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
Law Maker 14-1 (8-6) Chased winner throughout, never dangerous, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Graze On (9-5) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Saviours Spirit 6-4fav (9-1) Led 1f, raced freely, held up in touch, headway to lead inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Who's Winning (8-11) by 1l, 6 ran.
Tartatartufata 25-1 (8-4) Chased leaders to halfway, 8th of 10, 12l behind Fyodor (9-2) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-100 (2) fbs in Jan.
Wicked Uncle 3-1 (9-9) Led, ridden 2f out, driven over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, one pace, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Law Maker (9-6) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Nepro (IRE) 8-1 (8-9) Mid-division, headway 2f out, soon every chance, stayed on same pace, 4th of 11, 1 1/2l behind Winthorpe (8-7) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-75 (5) std.
Kempsey 8-1 (9-4) Chased leader, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Mind Alert (8-10) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Silver Dane (IRE) 9-1 (8-7) Keen in touch, switched right soon after start, weakening when hung right on bend over 1f out, 9th of 13, 11l behind Misaro (8-7) at W'hampton 5f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
