held up, headway over 5f out, went 2nd over 2f out, led briefly inside final furlong, ran on
held up, headway over 5f out, ridden over 3f out, one pace final furlong
held up in touch, went 2nd over 4f out, led 3f out, headed and edged left inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
led, rider lost irons after 1f, headed 5f out, weakened 3f out
held up and behind, headway over 5f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
chased leaders, lost place over 5f out, weakened over 3f out, tailed off
chased leader, led 5f out, headed 3f out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
Another competitive handicap, in which hat-trick seeking Velvet Heights is taken to beat hat-trick seeking Sweet Indulgence ahead of Alpine Reel. The last-named has been in tremendous form this winter, and hasn't been out of the top three in all of his seven runs to date. However, this is a further step up in distance and whilst it shouldn't prove a problem, it may be a hard ask against some talented and proven performers. Sweet Indulgence has been a revelation since the switch to the all-weather, however this surface is an entirely difference kettle of fish to Lingfield and therefore he cannot be truly fancied. Millville has a tremendous all-weather record and this task is markedly easier than the listed race he contested last time out, but again he is yet to prove his liking for this surface and so he is reluctantly passed over. Of the rest, Bahaar Shumaal has looked disinterested of late, whilst Mighty Moon is still paying the price for his demolition job at Catterick on desperate ground. Thus in what is a competitive feature race, we return to Velvet Heights as our idea of the winner. He has cruised to victory on his last two starts and could easily be up to doing the same here, as he is one who will stay forever and assuming there is a decent early pace he could be good enough to complete his hat-trick.
Millville 4-1jt-fav (9-2) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 6th of 14, 2l behind Nayyir (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stk (1) pol in Nov.
Velvet Heights (IRE) 11-10fav (9-7) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden clear and ran on final furlong, won at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) fbs beating Mighty Moon (8-12) by 4l, 10 ran.
Alpine Reel (IRE) 10-11fav (9-7) Soon tracked leader, led approaching 2f out, strongly pressed throughout final furlong, held on gamely, all out, won at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) pol beating Fusili (9-4) by a hd, 9 ran.
Bahar Shumaal (IRE) 5-1 (9-1) Held up, good headway from over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Speedy Sam (8-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Nov.
Sweet Indulgence (IRE) 11-2 (8-8) Held up, headway over 3f out, chased leaders 3f out, ridden to lead 1f out, stayed on well, won at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Nov beating Cold Turkey (9-0) by 2l, 8 ran.
Baan (USA) 8-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, led 3f out, soon headed, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 8, 10l behind Speedy Sam (8-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Nov.
Mighty Moon 14-1 (8-12) Led until over 2f out, soon one pace, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Velvet Heights (9-7) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) fbs.
Weightless 7-1 (9-5) With leaders, led after 1f out until over 6f out, hung right over 2f out, soon ridden and one pace, 5th of 7, 8l behind Cimyla (9-7) at W'hampton 1m 1f stk (4) pol in Nov.
