slowly into stride, always behind
always prominent, led 1f out, ridden and kept on well inside final furlong
held up rear, headway over 2f out, ran on well edging left inside final furlong
led until headed 1f out, soon weakened
outpaced in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out to be nearest at finish
tracked leader, every chance 1f out, soon one pace
always towards rear
in touch, ridden along 3f out, weakened over 1f out
prominent, ridden 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
Ok Pal might provide the answer here, with Prince Tum Tum and Kingsmaite suggested as dangers. Ok Pal got back to winning ways here over five furlongs last time and still looks competitively weighted, although his wide draw is a negative. Newsround looked promising a year ago and first-time blinkers might rejuvenate this lightly-raced gelding. There is no doubt that Prince Tum Tum is well-weighted based on his January form and he caught the eye making late headway last time, although Countdown, who is another that can have a case made for him, was ahead of him on that occasion. Kingsmaite is just a pound above his March winning mark, Sir Desmond is only two pounds above a course and distance winning mark from a year ago, Harrison's Flyer is on a winning Turf mark from the summer and Mistral Flyer can have the case built for him based on seven-furlong Lingfield form of a year ago. A wide draw puts us off Gilded Cove and the remainder need best-yet efforts inn order to feature, we feel, although Louphole is very well-weighted based on a course and distance win of eleven months ago and drops to today's trip for the first time since August today. In what is, then, an interesting but tricky race, we will side with Ok Pal.
Will He Wish 20-1 (9-1) In touch, chased leaders 3f out, kept on, 4th of 13, 3/4l behind Chateau Nicol (9-4) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Prince Tum Tum (USA) 11-2 (9-1) Towards rear, headway 3f out, kept on, 6th of 13, 1l behind Chateau Nicol (9-4) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Sir Desmond 7-1 (9-0) Broke well and held up in touch, ridden 3f out, soon held, 8th of 13, 3l behind Chateau Nicol (9-4) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Countdown 33-1 (8-12) Soon led, ridden when headed over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 13, 3/4l behind Chateau Nicol (9-4) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Balakiref 8-1 (8-10) Towards rear, some late progress, 7th of 13, 2l behind Chateau Nicol (9-4) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Harrison's Flyer (IRE) 9-1 (8-10) Mid-division and keen, not clear run over 1f out, no further impression, 11th of 13, 5l behind Chateau Nicol (9-4) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Gilded Cove 2-1fav (9-4) Held up, headway over 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Willheconquertoo (9-1) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Ok Pal 9-2jt-fav (8-13) Mid-division, headway on inside over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Piccled (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
