It was heavy ground when LAMPS beat previous hat-trick winner Joanne One over today's trip at Market Rasen last month. The form looks solid enough and Michael Blake's charge is taken to defy a 5lb rise. Valid Reason would go close with a repeat of his second at Sandown in November, although he's disappointed since and finished behind fourth-placed Invicta Lake at Ascot in December. The latter won an amateurs race over track and trip earlier and should be in the mix while King Of Glory is better than his reappearance effort at Fontwell suggests.
Lamps 4-1 (10-6) Led into start, tracked leader until before 6th, ridden after 3 out, rallied 2 out, challenged last, led towards finish, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) hvy in Jan beating Joanne One (10-8) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Valid Reason 14-1 (11-9) Raced wide, chased leaders, weakened 3 out, eased, tailed off, 9th of 12, 50l behind Bygones Sovereign (10-8) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Invicta Lake (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never on terms, 7th of 16, 11l behind Pass Muster (11-1) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.
Auld Sthock (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, never on terms, 4th of 10, 25l behind Knock House (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
King Of Glory 8-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders in 4th, pushed along before 4 out, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 11, well behind Kings Palace (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Bangkok Pete (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, led 3rd until 6th, chased leaders, weakened approaching 10th, tailed off before 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Virginia Ash (11-2) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan, 12 ran.
Ctappers 33-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, ridden after 6th, well beaten after next, mistake 2 out, tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Red Admirable (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
