EQUITATION failed to win for Roger Varian last year but made a promising start for new connections when placed in a higher grade sprint over the minimum trip here. Both wins in 2017 came over today’s distance and he can get off the mark for Stuart Williams’ in-form yard. Choice Encounter won an amateurs' race before going in again at Kempton recently and is preferred to the returning Logi while Equiano Springs’ earlier success at the track came over 7f, though he’s placed over track and trip on both subsequent starts.
Equiano Springs 10-3fav (9-7) Raced keenly, made most, ridden and headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Treacherous (9-2) at Newcastle 6f hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Equitation 9-1 (8-9) Slowly into stride, behind, ridden over 3f out, ran on final furlong, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Outrage (9-4) at Newcastle 5f hcp (3) pol in Jan.
Logi (IRE) 7-2 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 6th of 10, 4 1/4l behind Intransigent (8-12) at Chester 7f hcp (3) sft in Sep.
Choice Encounter 11-4fav (9-2) Held up in touch, driven to chase leaders over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, led narrowly near finish, won at Kempton 6f hcp (4) pol in Jan beating Last Page (9-4) by ns, 7 ran.
