soon with leader, led halfway, ridden and headed 2f out, no impression over 1f out
soon outpaced, driven along halfway, tailed off
slight lead to halfway, weakened 2f out
chased leaders, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, clear when edged left inside final furlong, ridden out
LORD VICTOR stands out at the weights here and gets the vote ahead of Angie's Nap. The Alan McCabe-trained selection is 10lbs better off with Angie's Nap than if this were a handicap, and given that he loves it around here and this is his optimum trip, everything points to another success at a level he performs best at. Angie's Nap was over six lengths adrift of the selection last time they met, and is now only 1lb better off, so can't be supported with any confidence, though he does look forecast material. Miss Taken was more than 12 lengths behind our pick in that same recent contest so can't be proferred on that evidence, even though she does act on this surface and has put in better efforts previously. Clayton Flick is also 7lbs worse off with the selection for being beaten over four lengths by him in a seller here, so is another impossible to fancy on that form, and the clear pick here is Lord Victor.
Lord Victor 9-4 (8-10) Made all, driven over 1f out, stayed on under pressure, won at Southwell 7f 2yo clm stks (5) fbs in Dec beating Bubbly Bellini (8-8) by nk, 6 ran.
Last Of The Ravens 200-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, soon in touch, weakened 3f out, hung left over 2f out, last of 7, 17l behind Exearti (8-12) at Southwell 6f 2yo mdn stks (5) fbs in Dec.
Angie's Nap (USA) 10-1 (8-2) Pressed winner, ridden and hung left over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Lord Victor (8-10) at Southwell 7f 2yo clm stks (5) fbs in Dec.
Miss Taken (IRE) 9-1 (7-9) Chased leaders, ridden and rider dropped whip over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 6, 12l behind Lord Victor (8-10) at Southwell 7f 2yo clm stks (5) fbs in Dec.
Clayton Flick (IRE) 12-1 (8-7) Behind, headway and effort over 2f out, soon ridden, no impression from over 1f out, 4th of 7, 5l behind The Love Guru (8-13) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.