raced keenly, tracked leading pair, switched left off inside over 2f out, soon challenging, led entering final furlong, ran on strongly
mounted in walkway, tracked leaders, pushed along 4f out, soon outpaced, ridden and weakened over 2f out
led, joined 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
steadied start, held up in rear, hung right and beaten over 2f out, never on terms
tracked leader, going well 3f out, challenged 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and not quicken inside final furlong
dwelt, raced keenly, held up in touch, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, beaten when hung right inside final 2f
held up in touch, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on in 3rd inside final furlong
held up in touch on inside, pushed along 3f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out
steadied start, held up in last pair, ridden on outside and hung right 2f out, no headway
Utopian Lad went close over today’s trip at Lingfield in February but the rest are upped in distance with the majority also making their handicap debuts in a tricky contest. Lord Neidin finished in front of Hlaitan when third at Kempton in October,, though failed to build on that, while Grand Bazaar has something to find with the latter pair on collateral form. Junkanoo went close on soft ground at Nottingham last time but a chance is taken on SORREL. Caught in the closing stages attempting to make all over 7f at Kempton in October, he looks sure to stay this longer trip. Dirty Dancer should come into her own over middle-distances this year but Tulip Fields is one of the more exposed.
Tulip Fields 4-1 (9-0) Led, headed when hung left approaching final furlong, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 9, 3 1/4l behind Fooraat (9-0) at Newcastle 7f fll stks (5) pol in Oct.
Dirty Dancer (FR) 5-2 (8-11) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and beaten over 1f out, last of 5, 10 1/2l behind Berkshire Rocco (9-2) at Chester 7f stks (4) gd in Aug.
Junkanoo 11-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, keen, every chance over 1f out, hung left when challenging inside final furlong, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 10, nk behind Tremor (9-0) at Nottingham 1m mdn stks (4) sft in Oct.
Lord Neidin 25-1 (9-2) Soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 14, 5 1/2l behind Hukum (9-2) at Kempton 1m stks (4) pol in Nov.
Grand Bazaar 4-1 (9-2) Soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 2 3/4l behind First View (9-9) at Kempton 1m stks (5) pol in Nov.
Hlaitan 9-4fav (9-5) Slowly into stride, in touch, headway over 1f out, chasing leaders when not clear run inside final furlong, kept on, 5th of 14, 1 1/4l behind First View (9-5) at Kempton 1m stks (4) pol in Oct.
Sorrel (IRE) 5-6fav (9-0) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Little Becky (9-0) at Kempton 7f fll stks (5) pol in Oct.
Hurricane Alex 4-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, ridden inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 4l behind Siberian Night (8-5) at Kempton 1m (4) pol in Dec.
Utopian Lad (IRE) 10-3 (9-2) Broke well, steadied and lost place after 1f, took keen hold, not clear run over 2f out, soon pushed along, came wide straight and headway well over 1f out, ridden final furlong, finished well, 3rd of 9, nk behind Goddess Of Fire (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Star Of Wells (IRE) 7-2 (9-5) Mid-division, pushed along over 5f out, effort and switched right 2f out, went 2nd and swished tail over 1f out, no impression on winner, just held onto 2nd, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Higher Kingdom (9-5) at Kempton 7f stks (5) pol in Oct.
