made all, set steady pace until quickened over 2f out, hard ridden over 1f out, held on well
slowly into stride, held up in rear, keen, never dangerous
in touch, effort over 1f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, driven over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
keen in touch on outside, effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leader, took keen hold, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, never on terms
held up, headway over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, kept on same pace
Mythical Madness went close in this grade at Lingfield a fortnight ago when finishing just in front of Original Choice with My Target and Chevallier both well beaten. Original Choice was having his first start since September and may well reverse running in this but it could pay to stick with SALUTE THE SOLDIER (NAP). Gelded during the summer, he returned to action with a cosy success at Chelmsford and followed that with another convincing win over today’s trip at Kempton. Clive Cox’ progressive charge is taken to shrug off a further rise in the weights with more to come from him. Steel Train won in this grade at the end of last year in between his more usual poor efforts but hasn’t raced since June.
Original Choice (IRE) 5-4fav (9-4) In touch, headway over 1f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish, 3rd of 8, 3/4l behind Hakam (9-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Steel Train (FR) 25-1 (9-3) Held up in rear, weakened halfway, eased over 1f out, last of 15, dist behind Spanish City (9-1) at Doncaster 7f hcp (3) gf in Jun.
Mythical Madness 12-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, headway entering final furlong, not clear run and switched right, ridden and ran on to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Hakam (9-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Chevallier 20-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, pushed along over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Hakam (9-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Pettifogger (IRE) 50-1 (9-6) Prominent on outside, edged left and one pace over 1f out, faded, 8th of 11, 14l behind Boy In The Bar (8-5) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (2) pol in Sep.
Salute The Soldier (GER) 4-5fav (9-8) Took keen hold early, soon steadied into 4th, headway on outside over 2f out, led and edged right entering final furlong, ran on well, won at Kempton 1m hcp (4) pol in Nov beating Guvenor's Choice (9-6) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
My Target (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Dwelt, held up towards rear, pushed along 2f out, never a factor, last of 8, 7 3/4l behind Hakam (9-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Maratha (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Tracked leader, challenged over 2f out, lost place when carried right and not much room over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 9, 6 3/4l behind Primero (9-6) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (2) pol in Nov.