mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out
chased winner, ridden 2f out, edged right and lost 2nd final strides
towards rear, ridden and some headway on inside over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
made most, clear 4f out, driven edged left inside final furlong, unchallenged
chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened 2f out
dwelt in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on to go 2nd final strides
always in rear
keen in rear, ridden 2f out, kept on, not troubled leaders
Secret Witness is consistent but proving hard to win with and so we will take him on here with BEAT THE BELL, while Orpsie Boy and Step It Up are others short-listed. The selection first, however, and Jamie Osborne's five-year-old returned from a break with a really good effort in the context of this race, when runner-up here over course and distance. He remains on the same mark for this race and should be straighter for it, so we will give him another chance. Secret Witness has to be taken seriously and has been beaten no more than two-and-a-quarter lengths in each of his last seven starts. He goes well here despite not having won at the track but from today's mark we will take him on. Orpsie Boy represents a yard going well and is very gradually slipping in the weights, but his current mark still looks on the prohibitive side and we will oppose today. Step It Up has dropped to a very handy mark and acts well here, but against specialist 6f performers he will have his work cut out to get home. Halsion Chancer loves it here and looks well handicapped on old form, though he has struggled to recapture that and we prefer the claims of Beat The Bell.
Orpsie Boy (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) In touch, ridden 2f out, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind New Leyf (8-10) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Viking Spirit 16-1 (8-10) Towards rear, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, never dangerous, 9th of 11, 6l behind Fullandby (9-3) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Nov.
Financial Times (USA) 20-1 (9-1) Pulled hard, tracked leader until 2f out, 9th of 10, 9l behind New Leyf (8-10) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Beat The Bell 15-2 (9-1) In touch, ridden to lead 1f out, soon headed, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 1l behind Lucky Redback (9-1) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Archie Rice (USA) 20-1 (8-6) Tracked leaders, lost place over 2f out, 10th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Kyllachy Star (8-12) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Oct.
Secret Witness 6-1 (8-12) Tracked leading pair, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 2 1/4l behind New Leyf (8-10) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Halsion Chancer 9-2 (8-12) Led, ridden 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, soon weakened, last of 5, 7l behind Lucky Redback (9-1) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Phantom Whisper 8-1 (8-13) Always behind, 10th of 12, 7l behind Fantasy Explorer (9-4) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Oct.
Step It Up (IRE) 3-1 (8-10) Held up in touch,effort over 1f out, soon one pace, last of 4, 1 3/4l behind Sherjawy (8-5) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.