tracked leader, led well over 1f out, ridden and headed close home
held up towards rear, shaken up and headway 2f out, kept on, not reached leaders
tracked leaders, kept on and hard ridden to lead close home
steadied start, held up, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, headway over 1f out, pushed along approaching final furlong, never dangerous
RED SOMERSET has to be the pick in this 9f handicap, with Silver Hotspur next best. Trainer Conor Dore had a winner on Tuesday, which will add confidence for those backing the former Michael Wigham inmate Silver Hotspur. His former trainer placed him to run up a sequence last year, and he has won from today's mark of 81. All but one of his wins have come at Southwell, the other being here over 7f, and although he was once a runner-up over 10f at Kempton he does not really give the impression that he truly gets beyond a mile. Red Somerset is therefore the pick. Ron Hodges' charge has won over course and distance and is in superb form with three wins and two seconds from his last five outings. Another 4lb rise for a tight win at Lingfield makes this tougher but he has more ticks in the right boxes than the rest. Al Muheer is a doubtful stayer, as are both Gallantry and Wessex. Tourist is unexposed if you can discount his latest effort, where more use could have been made of him, but Wasp may be a better proposition than him given that he acts on the track and has the pedigree that suggests he will stay further than this. Red Somerset gets the nomination.
Red Somerset (USA) 13-2 (8-2) Tracked leader, quicken to lead 2f out, stayed on strongly final furlong, held on well close home, won at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-100 (2) pol beating Titan Triumph (8-6) by a ns, 9 ran.
Al Muheer (IRE) 25-1 (9-2) Always behind, ridden over 2f out, never nearer, 8th of 11, 8l behind Duff (9-4) at Kempton 7f lst stk (1) pol in Dec.
Wasp (AUS) 16-1 (8-6) Prominent, raced keenly, ridden and weakened over 2f out, last of 18, 24l behind Lucky Dance (8-6) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Nov.
Gallantry 14-1 (8-10) Led, ridden over 2f out, no extra when headed 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Harald Bluetooth (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-90 (3) pol.
Wessex (USA) 8-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, behind, ridden over 2f out, never going pace to troubled leaders, 7th of 12, 8l behind Ninth House (8-10) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar.
Silver Hotspur 4-1 (9-9) Prominent, raced keenly, chased leader over 5f out until over 2f out, beaten over 1f out, weakened well inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Dichoh (9-9) at W'hampton 1m 1f clm (6) pol.
Tourist 14-1 (9-2) Held up, headway over 1f out, one pace, 4th of 7, 7l behind Mahadee (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f stk (2) pol.