tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, one pace
led, headed after 1f, led again 8f out, headed 7f out, ridden 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on
held up, headway to track leaders 4f out, ridden over 2f out and weakened
prominent, led after 1f, headed 8f out, led again soon after, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, one pace
steadied start, brief effort over 3f out, soon no danger
in touch, ridden and outpaced 3f out, stayed on, not reached leaders
held up, ridden 6f out, struggled on
The veteran Treetops Hotel is given our vote to beat Pocket Too and Blue Hills. The booking of Neil Callan is significant while a drop to a BHA rating of 60 allows Reg Hollinshead's charge the chance to get his head back in front. While beaten in claiming company last time out, Treetops Hotel did meet interference in the closing stages and back in handicap company could just make his presence felt. Forcing tactics were applied when Pocket Too finished a respectable fourth in a competitive Kempton contest last week. Should similar tactics be once again applied, Pocket Too could make them all go under the in-form Kirsty Milczarek. Blue Hills is not getting any younger but a reproduction of the form that saw him victorious over the course in November could see him go close. Treetops Hotel the tentative choice over Pocket Too and Blue Hills.
Pocketwood 9-1 (9-0) Held up, pushed along over 5f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened well over 2f out, 4th of 6, 8l behind Fresh Mint (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Pocket Too 9-1 (8-11) Led until headed just over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 1l behind Resplendent Ace (9-2) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Treetops Hotel (IRE) 5-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, held up, ridden 3f out, headway 2f out, not clear run inside final furlong, not quicken, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Looks The Business (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 4f clm (6) pol.
Blue Hills 6-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, led over 6f out, headed over 3f out, driven and edged right over 1f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Victory Quest (8-9) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec.
Global Traffic 9-2 (8-6) Tracked leader, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Three Boars (9-7) at Southwell 1m 4f app hcp (5) fbs.
Vanishing Dancer (SWI) 50-1 (9-2) Always rear, never a factor, 10th of 12, 19l behind Young Scotton (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Mango Masher (IRE) 9-2 (10-5) Tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 5f out, soon lost place, 9th of 10, 42l behind Cumbrian Knight (11-2) at Southwell 2m amt hcp (6) fbs.