tracked leading pair, pushed along 4f out, ridden over 2f out, driven and weakened over 1f out
held up, headway 2f out, soon ridden and kept on one pace
close up, ridden over 4f out, lost place and dropped to rear 3f out, rallied approaching final furlong, stayed on to take 3rd
dwelt, in rear, wide and headway approaching final furlong, ridden to lead well inside final furlong
led, headed 6f out, chased leader to well over 1f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, driven, hung left and led 1f out, headed well inside final furlong
with leader, led 6f out, ridden 3f out, headed 1f out, soon weakened
Only a small field but the best race of the night can go to SPINNING who is a confident selection to win at the chief expense of Gala Casino Star with One Way Or Another best of the rest. David Barron's gelding is a better animal on the all-weather and had been running well on the surface prior to sauntering home last time out. That six-length success off a mark of 80 could've been further had today's jockey Phillip Makin not eased the horse close home and surely the 9lb penalty he has to overcome today wouldn't have been enough to prevent him winning last time. The only serious concern here is to whether there will be the end-to-end gallop that best suits the six-year-old but there is enough pace in the line-up on paper to at least ensure that this is not a crawl and so the likely favourite can come home clear once more to defy a career-high mark. Gala Casino Star represents the powerful Richard Fahey - Paul Hanagan combination and remains unexposed on the all-weather having had just the two starts on artificial surfaces. Both those attempts came when the gelding was out of form and in lesser company today this four-year-old looks to have a live chance. This son of Doctor Fong hasn't won for over a year but went close to ending that losing run when narrowly held in October and perhaps a short break can have helped freshen the horse up ahead of this race, although a 4lb higher mark for coming second does look harsh and can prove just too much for the horse. One Way Or Another disappointed on soft ground last time but has been dropped a couple of pounds for that defeat having previously been just held off a mark of 90. Today's handicap rating of 92 looks perfectly fair judging by that narrow defeat back in October and there is no obvious reason why Jeremy Gask's horse won't prove just as effective on the all-weather having never previously raced away from the turf. A consistent performer down under before joining Gask, this one could well be underestimated in the market and could outrun his odds. The Fifth Member has been raised a pound following a length defeat over course and distance last time but that was a hot looking contest and the winner is a prolific all-weather winner and so Jim Boyle's mount looks a live danger, particularly as the gelding has been known to front run in the past and that tactical versatility may help in this seven-runner field. However the five-year-old hasn't necessarily looked up to winning off a mark this high in the past and may have to settle for a supporting role here. In a race where all seven must have some semblance of a chance Chapter And Verse rates the next best although that one is engaged at Kempton on Thursday evening and it remains to be seen whether he'll turn out once more and so for the winner we return to the in form Spinning to show them all the way home.
Perfect Star 25-1 (9-0) Held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 19, 11l behind Queen Of Pentacles (8-10) at Doncaster 1m 2f fll lst stks (1) sft.
One Way Or Another (AUS) 13-2 (8-13) In rear, effort 2f out, never dangerous, 13th of 20, 10l behind Collateral Damage (8-11) at Doncaster 7f hcp 105 (2) sft.
Gala Casino Star (IRE) 15-2 (8-11) Held up in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, joined winner and every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 15, nk behind Fastnet Storm (8-10) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Oct.
Spinning 2-1fav (9-6) Slowly into stride, towards rear, good headway entering final 2f, ridden to lead entering final furlong, soon clear, comfortable, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) pol beating Xpres Maite (9-6) by 6l, 10 ran.
The Fifth Member (IRE) 12-1 (8-9) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Stand Guard (8-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
Chapter And Verse (IRE) 20-1 (8-11) Held up, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Tinshu (8-10) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Gaily Noble (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, led 3f out, hung right, headed entering final furlong, no extra, lost 2 places towards finish, 4th of 10, 7l behind Spinning (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
