PRIVATE JOKE got off the mark in good style to land the odds in a maiden over C&D recently. A good run from the runner-up D'Artagnan in the previous race on today's card would boost the form and with further progress expected, John Gosden's charge is taken to score on his handicap debut. Lord Of The Dance has been in fair form here of late and should go well again, but Dundalk winner Buaiteoir makes more appeal judged on his promising first run for Paul D'Arcy here last month.
Ilie Nastase (FR) 11-1 (8-12) Never near leaders, 10th of 14, 7l behind Lowther (9-7) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Buaiteoir (FR) 5-1 (9-1) Steadied start, held up towards rear, headway 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind West End Lad (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Private Joke 1-5fav (9-3) Steadied start, soon close up in 4th, headway to dispute 2nd 5f out, caught wide and pushed along 3f out, led over 2f out, pushed out final furlong, readily, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol beating D'Artagnan (8-4) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Lord of The Dance (IRE) 9-2 (8-9) Held up in touch, chased leaders over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never able to challenge, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Final Drive (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Hierarch (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Well off the pace towards rear, stayed on from over 1f out, went modest 4th close home, 4th of 13, 10l behind Dream Of Fortune (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f clm stks (6) pol in Oct.
Peadar Miguel 33-1 (9-3) Steadied start, always in rear, last of 11, 9l behind Blue Moon (9-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Tuscan King 25-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 14, 7l behind Aurora Sky (9-7) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
