started slowly, held up, headway on outer over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
behind, headway on inside over 3f out, led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, not quicken
slowly into stride and soon switched left, held up, headway when not much room 2f out, soon ridden, led inside final furlong, driven out
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
tracked leader until well over 2f out, soon hampered and weakened
chased leaders until weakened over 1f out
held up, not clear run over 3f out, headway on inside over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, not quicken
soon behind, ridden and headway over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, not quicken
behind final 4f
chased leaders until weakened over 2f out
This has an open look to it but we suggest that Wessex has what it takes to repeat his recent win over Queens Rhapsody on 4lb worse terms, while General Feeling and Seneschal can also be involved. Paul Blockley's yard is in fine form at present and Wessex has improved by over a stone since winning at Southwell 12 months ago, winning three times since and handling both all weather surfaces well. Admittedly he has to produce a lifetime best here, but we'll take him to do so while in such good heart. Queens Rhapsody has a 4lb pull for a one-and-a-half length beating last time, so she is entitled to take this race right to the line. She won't be far away but if anything she seems better on ground slower than standard and we will just oppose. General Feeling won a 6f contest at Lingfield recently and was unlucky when hampered after being stepped up to this trip at the same track last time. If he gets a clear run then we could certainly see more today, while Seneshcal finished ahead of him that day and is 2lb better off here, though he did get to run his race, so the form can be questioned in that respect. Its interesting then, and we'll take Wessex to score.
Wessex (USA) 7-1fav (9-4) Slowly into stride, mid-division, headway over 2f out, ran on to lead close home, won at Southwell 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Nov beating My Gacho (9-0) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Queens Rhapsody 8-1 (9-4) Behind, headway over 1f out, stayed on well, nearest finish, 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Wessex (9-4) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Nov.
General Feeling (IRE) 9-4fav (9-2) Held up towards rear, good headway when hampered on inner over 1f out, ran on final 100 yards nearest finish, unlucky, 5th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Ever Cheerful (8-13) at Lingfield 7f clm (6) pol.
Nephetriti Way (IRE) 40-1 (9-3) Prominent, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov beating Summer Recluse (9-3) by 1l, 12 ran.
Stoic Leader (IRE) 8-1 (8-8) Mid-division, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, kept on, no extra 1f out, one pace, 6th of 12, 4l behind Waterside (8-11) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Seneschal 11-1 (9-2) Held up behind, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not trouble winner, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Ever Cheerful (8-13) at Lingfield 7f clm (6) pol.
Connotation 8-1 (8-4) In touch, not clear run and lost place over 2f out, ridden, hung left over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 6l behind Heat of The Night (8-10) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (D2) pol in Feb.
Deeper In Debt 9-1 (9-1) Led, ridden 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, weakened, 10th of 12, 7l behind Hits Only Heaven (8-13) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
