in rear, hampered over 2f out, soon beaten
held up mid-division, headway 3f out, hung left and led inside final furlong, just held on
mid-division, headway 2f out, driven and hung left from over 1f out, pulled right inside final furlong, kept on towards finish
chased leader over 7f out, led 5f out, headed 2f out, beaten when hampered inside final furlong
held up towards rear, not much room over 2f out, soon beaten
soon chasing leaders, hanging left from over 3f out, lost place and eased over 2f out
chased leaders, 2nd 3f out, led 2f out, edged left and headed inside final furlong, not much room, ran on
chased leaders until settled into mid-division 7f out, hung right and weakened over 2f out
slowly away, in rear, headway over 1f out, no impression
led, headed 5f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
always prominent, squeezed through to challenge on inside final furlong, ran on
always in rear
A dire handicap in which HERBERT CRESCENT is our idea of the most likely winner with Natural Rhythm and Bestowed identified as dangers. Herbert Crescent is a previous winner on Lingfield's polytrack but he has gone close on a number of occasions here in the past and with plenty of holes in the form of others; his selection is one of default. Natural Rhythm has put up two below par displays in recent outings but that has at least facilitated him into a drop into 0-55 company. Bestowed has been thumped 10lb by the assessor for finishing third in a claimer behind horses rated 83 and 80. The market will tell us whether connections believe it is enough. Sion Hill wins in his turn though the stable's form has been woeful. Whipma Whopma Gate and Kalhan Sands are inconsistent while Confide In Me has not lived up to the promise of his incredibly smart pedigree. Herbert Crescent is selected in a race where quality form is distinctly low on the ground.
Spinning Ridge (IRE) 40-1 (9-2) Held up, never dangerous, 11th of 13, 21l behind Cadeaux Fax (9-2) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Confide In Me 4-1 (9-4) Held up mid-division, effort over 2f out, soon one pace, 5th of 14, 9l behind Vertigo On Course (8-12) at Yarmouth 7f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Sep.
Bestowed 50-1 (8-6) Tracked leader, ridden 3f out, every chance over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Traphalgar (9-3) at Leicester 1m 2f clm stks (6) gf in Sep.
Sion Hill (IRE) 16-1 (8-8) Led, ridden and headed well over 1f out, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 11l behind Hobson (9-5) at Leicester 7f all hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Sep.
Roman Maze 16-1 (9-2) Held up, never a factor, 10th of 12, 9l behind Ugenius (9-5) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Sep.
Leap The Liffey (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, hung when challenged under pressure early straight, 3rd and no extra under 1f out, dropped to 4th on line, 4th of 14, 5l behind Lord Kenmare (9-6) at Dundalk 1m hcp 47-65 pol in Sep.
Whipma Whopma Gate (IRE) 7-1 (8-12) Held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, 7th of 10, 7l behind Kind Heart (8-5) at Redcar 1m 2f sell stks (6) gf in Sep.
Kalhan Sands (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Towards rear, never dangerous, last of 13, 13l behind Nomoreblondes (9-2) at Newcastle 5f hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Aug.
Dark Camellia 9-1 (9-3) Held up and keen, kept on over 1f out, 8th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Annes Rocket (9-4) at Kempton 7f hcp (6) pol.
Natural Rhythm (IRE) 20-1 (8-8) Led, headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 15, 18l behind Wiseman's Diamond (9-3) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Sep.
Herbert Crescent 11-4fav (9-0) Rearing in stalls, tracked leaders, ridden into 3rd and hung left over 1f out, kept on into 2nd well inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Gifted Heir (8-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f app hcp 0-50 (7) pol.
Sir Billy Nick 66-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 19l behind Red Expresso (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f app hcp (6) pol in Sep.
Wakita (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Held up, kept on from over 1f out, 6th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Vamos (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (0-65) (6) pol.
