behind, ridden and headway when edged left over 1f out, stayed on
led early, prominent, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
soon led, ridden over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, headed close home
held up, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
always towards rear
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
prominent and keen, ridden and edged left over 1f out, one pace final furlong
outpaced, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong
held up and keen, ridden and headway over 2f out, ran on lead close home
prominent, ridden over 2f out, no extra well inside final furlong
prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Nonrunner
Mambazo can come out on top over Lucius Verrus, with Bollin Billy and Soba Jones just two more in with a shout. This has a fairly competitive look to it, and only a marginal vote goes to Mambazo who was successful over five furlongs here in December. More recently, Stuart Williams's charge finished a length second to today's topweight Bollin Billy at Lingfield but meets that rival on much better terms and should safely turn the tables. There are others in with chances though, not least Lucius Verrus who always seems to run well on this track. Derek Shaw's six-year-old came out best in a close finish on the Southwell fibresand last month and is holding his form well at present. Soba Jones gained his first vctory in two years when landing a claimer at Southwell exactly a week ago, and the horse that he beat, Shadow Jumper, has since franked the form by scoring here last Thursday, so he has to be on the short-list despite his weight. All in all, it could develop into a close-run affair, with Mambazo taken to score.
Bollin Billy 8-1 (9-2) Ridden towards rear halfway, headway over 1f out, ran on to lead close home, won at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol beating Mambazo (8-12) by 1l, 12 ran.
Soba Jones 12-1 (8-6) Always prominent, led over 2f out, kept on well, won at Southwell 6f clm (6) fbs beating Shadow Jumper (8-7) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Diamond Josh 11-4fav (8-8) Always prominent, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at W'hampton 6f mdn clm (7) pol in Oct beating Leah's Pride (8-10) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Mambazo 4-1jt-fav (8-12) Chased leaders, hard ridden 2f out, ran on final furlong finish, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Bollin Billy (9-2) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Lucius Verrus (USA) 14-1 (8-8) Held up in touch, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Southwell 6f hcp (6) fbs in Dec beating Scuba (8-13) by a nk, 13 ran.
Roman Empire 11-2 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, raced wide and effort over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 9l behind Soba Jones (8-6) at Southwell 6f clm (6) fbs.
Ruman (IRE) 9-1 (8-4) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 2nd of 14, 3l behind Owed (8-11) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs.
Winthorpe (IRE) 9-1 (8-13) Raced stands side, held up, effort over 1f out, driven and stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 18, 2 1/2l behind Mugeba (8-7) at Yarmouth 6f hcp 0-60 (6) hvy in Nov.
