tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, faded
in touch on inside, ridden 2f out, every chance 1f out, kept on
towards rear, steady headway 3f out, effort 1f out, ran on, not reach leaders
held up, headway 3f out, ridden and not clear run inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden and some progress over 2f out
mid-division, ridden and weakened 4f out
held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, kept on
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden 3f out, kept on
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, led well inside final furlong
with leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed well inside final furlong
Silent Storm is selected to come out on top over Northern Desert, Farewell Gift and Spring Goddess. The latter will probably be in need of the run, having been absent since October, but she comes from a shrewd stable and has a good draw, so should not be dismissed out of hand. However, preference is for Silent Storm who has really bounced back to form of late, gaining back-to-back victories over six furlongs on this track. He has won over a mile here before, so there are no problems on that score, and with a decent draw today, he is taken to shrug off a rise in the handicap. Northern Desert managed to overhaul the front-running Farewell Gift in the drying strides here three weeks ago, and at the revised weights, may still just about come out on top of the pair again. Waterside is a bit high in the weights at present, but was only collared inside the final furlong over 10 furlongs here 10 days ago, and similar tactics may see him go close over this shorter trip. For the winner we return to Silent Storm.
Waterside (IRE) 11-1 (9-4) Pulled hard, led at steady pace, kicked on 2f out, headed entering final furlong, weakened towards finish, 7th of 10, 1 1/2l behind Willhego (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Spring Goddess (IRE) 100-1 (8-12) Held up in rear near side, headway to challenge over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong but always held, 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind Minority Report (9-1) at Newbury 7f hcp 0-95 (4) gf in Oct.
Northern Desert (IRE) 4-1 (8-11) Took keen hold towards rear, headway 2f out, led 1f out, ran on, won at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Farewell Gift (8-2) by a nk, 9 ran.
Swift Oscar 8-1 (8-13) Took keen hold in touch, ridden f out, every chance inside final furlong, not quicken, 4th of 9, 1 1/2l behind Northern Desert (8-11) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Silent Storm 5-1jt-fav (9-1) Mid-division, headway 2f out, ran on well to lead inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol beating Ever Cheerful (9-5) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
St Savarin (FR) 14-1 (8-8) Held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, switched left inside last, stayed on towards finish, 5th of 19, 3 1/2l behind Spring Jim (9-4) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (3) gs in May.
Claret And Amber 9-2 (8-12) Mid-division, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 13, 12l behind Bravo Maestro (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Habshan (USA) 11-4fav (9-4) Led, ridden and headed inside final 2f, weakened final furlong, 8th of 11, 5l behind Obezyana (9-3) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Nov.
Island Rapture 4-1fav (8-13) Always towards rear, ridden over 2f out, wide into straight, never dangerous, 11th of 12, 8l behind Glencalvie (8-12) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Dec.
Farewell Gift 25-1 (8-2) Led until headed 1f out, stayed on under pressure close home, 2nd of 9, nk behind Northern Desert (8-11) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Celtique 20-1 (8-5) Slowly into stride, outpaced, 12th of 13, 25l behind Bravo Maestro (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Tanforan 7-1 (8-7) Led to over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, ran on same pace, 4th of 13, 1l behind Raza Cab (8-9) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-75 (5) std.
