tracked leaders, went 2nd over 6f out, led well over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, held towards finish
held up, headway when not clear run and hampered over 1f out, squeezed through, led inside final furlong, just held on
led early, tracked leaders, every chance over 1f out, soon edged left, one pace final 75 yards
in rear, headway on outside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, just failed
soon led, ridden over 2f out, headed well over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
towards rear, ridden over 7f out, headway on inside over 1f out, outpaced final furlong
handy, ridden and hung left into rival over 1f out, beaten after, outpaced final furlong
Take The Helm should stay this longer trip having recorded a double over 7f here earlier in the month but is upped in class today. NOKHADA ran well enough without threatening the winner when third over a mile at Lingfield on his handicap debut. David Simcock's colt gets another chance in this with further progress likely and is preferred to Kempton runner-up Blacklister. Richard Hannon runs two but both are upped in class including recent course and distance winner Ritasun while Holiday Henry's earlier success at Lingfield came in a lowly seller.
Take The Helm 3-1jfav (9-7) Took keen hold, with leader, led narrowly over 4f out, ridden over 1f out, hard pressed when edged right inside final furlong, just held on, won at Wolverhampton 7f (4) pol in Dec beating Harry Champion (9-6) by hd, 8 ran.
Nokhada (IRE) 9-4 (8-12) Tracked winner, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Bag of Diamonds (8-0) at Lingfield 1m (3) pol in Dec.
Blacklister 6-1 (9-7) Slowly away, towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on and just held post, 2nd of 9, shd behind Sheila's Treat (9-1) at Kempton 1m (5) pol in Dec.
Lilbourne Prince (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, held up and behind, some headway on inside 2f out, pushed along and limited progress inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 4 1/4l behind Frozen Force (8-10) at Kempton 1m (5) pol in Dec.
Canford Crossing (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Raced keenly, tracked leader until led 8f out until over 7f out, tracked leader, ridden to lead again over 1f out, headed and not pace of winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 3 3/4l behind Mutawaaly (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Ritasun (FR) 14-1 (9-7) In rear, headway over 2f out, challenged over 1f out, kept on to lead post, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f (6) pol in Nov beating Ripoll (9-1) by hd, 6 ran.
Holiday Henry (USA) 9-2 (9-3) Prominent, led halfway, ridden and headed over 1f out, rallied towards finish, 3rd of 11, 1/2l behind Harlequin Rock (9-4) at Southwell 1m (6) pol in Dec.
