tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
always towards rear
lead early, chased winner, ridden to challenger over 1f out, kept on
held up in touch, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on final furlong
towards rear, hampered soon after start, weakened over 2f out
mid-division, ridden 3f out, headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong
slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, one pace
soon led, ridden 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong
slowly into stride, steady and switched left start, in rear, headway on inner when not clear run 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
Wessex is taken to defy a penalty at the expense of Councellor, with Claret And Amber, Atlantic Quest and Whitbarrow all out to stake their claims. Wessex looked the part when scoring here on December 31, his second victory in his last three outings, and the decision by trainer Paul Blockley to go for this rather than the ¿18,000 race half an hour earlier can reap dividends. The tongue-tie was left off last time and that seemed to help, so minus the aids again, and with a plumb draw in stall one, Wessex is the one to beat. Councellor and Claret And Amber, second and third respectively behind the selection last time, both reoppose on six-pound better terms, and strictly on the form book could turn the tables, but Wessex stuck to his task well last time and there is potentially more left in the locker. Of the duo just mentioned, Claret And Amber was making his Polytrack debut last time so can be followed whatever his fate today. Atlantic Quest overcame nearly a year's absence to gain a second course and distance victory for Karl Burke recently, but has it to do off topweight, while Whitbarrow has yet to recapture the form of old that would give him leading claims. Connections are thinking of sending Wessex to race in America and they would like to make sure that he adds to his recent haul beforehand. On latest evidence he has a sound chance of doing just that.
Atlantic Quest (USA) 9-4 (9-5) Held up, headway over 2f out, shaken up to lead well inside final furlong, won at W'hampton 7f clm (6) pol in Dec beating Mystic Man (9-5) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Mr Lambros 20-1 (8-4) Led for 1f, prominent, weakening when hampered over 2f out, eased, last of 13, well behind Serre Chevalier (9-0) at Goodwood 7f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Rafferty (IRE) 10-1 (8-1) Led to over 5f out, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, 9th of 11, 9l behind Suggestive (9-12) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Dec.
Wessex (USA) 7-2 (9-2) Soon chasing leaders, ridden along 2f out, headway to lead just over 1f out, driven out, comfortably, won at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec beating Councellor (8-13) by 4l, 10 ran.
Outer Hebrides 12-1 (9-2) Held up in rear near side, headway from 2f out, ran on strongly final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 18, 2l behind Minority Report (9-1) at Newbury 7f hcp 0-95 (4) gf in Oct.
Claret And Amber 11-4fav (9-4) Soon in touch, ridden over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong without troubling leaders, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Wessex (9-2) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Pawan (IRE) 18-1 (8-3) Soon outpaced, ridden 2f out, stayed on towards finish, 5th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Fyodor (9-2) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-100 (2) fbs.
Wavertree Warrior (IRE) 10-1 (8-9) Held up behind, stayed on from over 1f out, not reach leaders, 5th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Hits Only Heaven (8-13) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Whitbarrow (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Mid-division, effort to chase leader 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Chief Exec (9-4) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (4) std.
Wahoo Sam (USA) 12-1 (8-9) Led, headed 4f out, soon beaten, 18th of 20, well behind Krugerrand (8-13) at York 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Oct.
Screwdriver 9-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride and behind, ridden and some headway over 1f out but never really in contention, 6th of 10, 10l behind Wessex (9-2) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Councellor (FR) 7-1 (8-13) Always prominent, ridden 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong without being dangerous, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Wessex (9-2) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
