keen, held in rear, headway over 3f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong
close up, ridden and weakened over 3f out
soon led, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
close up, ridden over 6f out, weakened over 4f out
held up, improved over 5f out, chased leader 4f out, soon ridden and weakened
keen, prominent, led on bit over 2f out, ridden out inside final furlong
This looks to be a good opportunity for Dark Parade to complete the hat-trick, with Simon's Seat and Lazzaz capable of filling the frame. Supporters of the selection will be slightly apprehensive over the colt's ability to handle the ground, but provided he does that he would be a confident choice. Ridden out to win at Wolverhampton over this trip in December, he showed then that he can handle slower ground, and last time out his success at Lingfield, when he won readily over quarter-of-a-mile further enhanced his claims here. A repeat of either effort should be good enough with only 8st 2lb to carry. Topweight Simon's Seat drops back in trip and that is not sure to suit. Second to Southwell's standing dish Vanbrugh last week, he was one-paced when it mattered and it seems unlikely that he will have the pace over shorter, so he is just overlooked. Of the remainder, Lazzaz will perhaps be the one to give the selection most to do. Back below his last winning mark, he gets this trip well, and has run creditably here before without winning. A return to form last time was welcome, and now that the handicapper is relenting he could go close. But for the winner we return to Dark Parade.
Simon's Seat (USA) 10-1 Prominent, pushed along over 4f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, one pace final furlong, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Vanbrugh at Southwell 2m hcp (F4) fbs in Jan.
Royal Trigger 50-1 Tracked leader to 6f out, weakened over 1f out, 13th of 14, 7l behind The Violin Player at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (E3) pol in Jan.
Lazzaz 20-1 Chased clear leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind True Companion at W'hampton 1m 4f amt hcp (E3) std.
Windmill Lane 33-1 Chased leaders, ridden 5f out, weakened over 3f out, 8th of 11, 23l behind Bergamo at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (E) gs in Apr '01.
Hum (IRE) 50-1 Held up towards rear, under pressure over 4f out, soon lost touch, 10th of 11, 21l behind Mad at Lingfield 1m stk (H5) pol in Dec.
Dark Parade (ARG) 2-1fav Hampered start, held up in rear, good headway going well over 3f out to chase leaders, shaken up to lead inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Lingfield 2m stk (H5) pol in Jan beating Airgusta by 3l, 13 ran.
