raced stands side, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
raced stands side group, slowly into stride, towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on to lead towards finish
chased leaders stands side group, weakened final 2f
raced stands side group, always behind
chased leaders stands side group, faded final furlong
slowly away, in rear stands side group, headway over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
held up stands side group, stayed on final furlong, no impression
raced alone far side, close up until faded over 1f out
towards rear stands side group, never dangerous
led stands side group, ridden over 2f out, edged left inside final furlong, headed towards finish
chased leaders stands side group, ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
prominent stands side group, ridden over 2f out, weakened entering final furlong
An ordinary renewal can go to Pivotal Flame, who is preferred over stablemates Meccas Mate and Sierra Vista, while old-stagers Steenberg and Rising Shadow make the most appeal from the reminder. Rising Shadow is chasing a hat-trick and, having won at this level at Windsor last November, he knows exactly what to do to be effective in this grade. Watch the betting carefully where he is concerned. Similar comments apply to Steenberg, whose yard have done well at this meeting in the past. However, this fellow is notoriously hard to win with and he needs absolutely everything to go his way over this trip these days. Sierra Vista and Meccas Mate are closely matched and, as such are hard to split. The former has a pull at the weights from the last time they met, so she may be David Barker's best chance. A word also has to be passed on about Hinton Admiral, who has won four of his six previous starts and continues to improve. Mark Johnston did win this with a three-year-old in 2002, so any support is not without foundation. However, he lacks experience of this grade and has stiff test against his elders. Therefore, we prefer to take a safer route by siding with Pivotal Flame, whose form is more solid at this stage and she can help Ed McMahon carry on the family tradition of sending out winners at the Lincoln meeting. The Pivotal filly finished third in the Nunthorpe last season and a repeat dose would be good enough today.
Appalachian Trail (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (9-6) Midfield, effort to lead over 1f out, headed final furlong, outpaced, 5th of 10, 5l behind Munaddam (9-1) at Nad Al Sheba 6f hcp gf in Feb.
Rising Shadow (IRE) 11-2 (9-3) Dwelte, held up in rear, ridden and headway on outside over 1f out, switched left entering final furlong, ran on to lead final strides, won at Windsor 6f lst stk (1) gs in Nov beating Presto Shinko (9-9) by a hd, 10 ran.
The Kiddykid (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Prominent, ridden and weakend over 2f out, 14th of 18, 17l behind Rising Shadow (8-7) at York 6f hcap (2) sft in Oct.
Bahamian Pirate (USA) 16-1 (8-12) Behind, driven along halfway, headway over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 5l behind Ajigolo (8-6) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
Pivotal Flame 14-1 (9-11) Prominent, disputing 2nd halfway, ridden and kept on until no extra final furlong, 8th of 14, 4l behind Desert Lord (9-11) at Longchamp 5f Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Skhilling Spirit 11-1 (8-9) Slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden halfway, never on terms, 10th of 18, 6l behind Rising Shadow (8-7) at York 6f hcap (2) sft in Oct.
Steenberg (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Mid-division, outpaced over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, no impression, 5th of 11, 5l behind New Seeker (9-0) at Redcar 7f lst stk (1) gd in Sept.
Angus Newz 16-1 (8-12) Prominent on outer, chased leaders and wide straight 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 8l behind King Orchisios (9-0) at Lingfield 6f lst stk (1) pol in Feb.
Mecca's Mate 9-2fav (9-4) Chased leaders, one pace final furlong, 4th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Dhaular Dhar (8-10) at Catterick 5f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
Sierra Vista 7-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 2f out, stayed on, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Mecca's Mate (8-12) at Newmarket 5f hcp 0-110 (2) gs in Oct.
Danum Dancer 9-1 (9-3) Led stands side, ridden over 2f out, headed final furlong, no extra, 6th of 9, 13l behind Baby Strange (9-0) at York 6f 2yo lst stk (1) sft in Oct.
Hinton Admiral 7-2 (9-3) Made all, quickened clear over 2f out, stayed on well, won at Lingfield 7f 3yo lst stk (1) pol beating Hurricane Spirit (9-1) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
