slowly into stride, always behind
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakening when hung left over 1f out
mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, ran on to lead towards finish
mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
led, ridden over 1f out, headed just inside final furlong, weakened towards finish
held up, not clear run 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on well towards finish
prominent, ridden over 1f out, no extra towards finish
prominent, ridden 2f out, not quicken inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
held up, headway 2f out, ridden to lead just inside final furlong, headed towards finish
These sprinters tend to win in their turn and it might prove to be Desert Opal's turn today, with Sparkwell and Sir Don possibly the ones to chase him home. General Feeling has been given a chance by the grader now and would hold good claims if recapturing his best spring efforts, although this is the first time he has raced over five furlongs since 2004. Misaro is back to a winning Lingfield all-weather mark, while Desert Opal is on a competitive mark, has run well over course and distance and comes here on the back of a good second to Tartatartufata. Phinerine can't be ruled out of a good win if at his best, and Sparkwell has shown improvement of late and caught the eye with late headway at Kempton last time, although that was over six furlongs, but he has to turn around form with Blessed Place from that race. Bond Playboy was not beaten far here off today's mark in October over six furlongs, Sir Don has been raised two pounds for a narrow course and distance win last time, and, finally, Best Lead will need to turn back the clock a couple of years if he is to get involved and the remaining trio race from out of the weights. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Desert Opal, who has the added advantage of being well drawn.
Misaro (GER) 12-1 (8-10) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 12, 6l behind Fizzlephut (8-13) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Desert Opal 5-1 (8-10) Mid-division, switched right over 1f out, headway final furlong, ran on, 3rd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Tartatartufata (9-5) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov.
Phinerine 16-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 11th of 14, 15l behind Skip Of Colour (9-0) at Southwell 6f sll (6) std.
Sparkwell 7-1 (8-13) Started slowly, in rear, headway 2f out, stayed on, not reach leaders, 6th of 12, 5l behind Siraj (8-7) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Blessed Place 9-1 (8-12) Reared start, soon tracked leader, led just over 2f out, soon headed, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Siraj (8-7) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Bond Playboy 9-1 (8-8) Held up, hung left over 1f out, headway final furlong, kept on, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Shade Cozy (9-2) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov.
Jilly Why (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) In touch, led briefly entering final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 14, nk behind Larky's Lob (8-7) at Southwell 5f hcap (6) fbs in Nov.
Sir Don (IRE) 8-1 (8-10) In touch, ridden over 3f out, ran on inside final furlong to lead post, won at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov beating Rothesay Dancer (8-12) by a shd, 12 ran.
