held up towards rear, headway and switched right over 1f out, kept on
slowly into stride and outpaced, some late progress
soon led, ridden 2f out, headed well inside final furlong
outpaced, good late headway, not troubled leaders
chased leader, weakened final furlong
mid-division, hung right over 1f out, weakened
in touch, ridden over 1f out, badly hampered and not recover
led briefly, stayed prominent, effort over 1f out, led well inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Another competitive handicap in which the vote goes to Sahara Silk ahead of Desert Opal, Financial Times and Stoneacre Boy. The selection just got up to win last time out here sixteen days ago, and while the furious pace that day played to his strengths, he could easily get the same again today and should go close. He has a good draw and should be able to get a good pitch in order to track the leaders. Desert Opal had fortune on his side last time out as his stall gate opened slightly early, but the feeling is that he was good value for that win and he looks a danger, especially as he has been galvanised by the fitting of cheekpieces. Peter Grayson has his usual contingent of sprinters, the best of which appears to be Stoneacre Boy, a winner here seven days ago. He has a good draw in his favour, although a 4lb rise for that neck win might make him vulnerable. Perhaps of more interest could be Stef Liddiard's gelding Financial Times who was only beaten half a length by Stoneacre Boy after perhaps going for home slightly too early, and if ridden just a touch more patiently today he could go one better. However, that isn't guaranteed, and so for the winner we return to Sahara Silk.
Lucayos 22-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, outpaced, switched right entering straight, headway final furlong, ran on, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Sparkwell (8-8) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Financial Times (USA) 13-2 (9-2) Raced wide in touch, ridden to take slight lead well over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, nk behind Stoneacre Boy (8-13) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Stoneacre Boy (IRE) 14-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-70 (5) pol beating Financial Times (9-2) by a nk, 9 ran.
Hornpipe 20-1 (9-2) Chased leader, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, last of 9, 6l behind Sparkwell (8-8) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Lady Bahia (IRE) 11-1 (9-0) Outpaced, ridden and headway on inside over 1f out, weakened well inside final furlong, 7th of 9, 4l behind Sparkwell (8-8) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Lyndalee (IRE) 20-1 (8-9) Slowly into stride, soon pulled hard mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 12, 14l behind Figaro Flyer (9-0) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Desert Opal 2-1fav (8-12) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, ran on to lead towards finish, won at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-65 (6) pol beating New Options (8-6) by a nk, 13 ran.
Sahara Silk (IRE) 18-1 (8-4) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 4th of 10, 9l behind California Laws (8-6) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-85 (4) std.