with leaders, ridden, every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, ridden, not much room over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
slowly into stride, behind, driven over 3f out, effort and not much room briefly on inside over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
always behind
soon led, ridden, headed well over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, hung left from over 2f out, one pace final furlong
led early, always prominent, every chance over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out
with leaders over 2f, tailed off
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
In a tricky opener, Abbeygate gets the call ahead of Figurative and Active Account. Back to the mark from which he won over course and distance in November, Abbeygate looks to be competitive once again today. A narrow winner over course and distance last time, Quiet Reading now has a five-pound rise to defy in order to a score. The lightly-raced Figurative is a pound better off for the head he was beaten that day. Nisr has been raised four pounds for a Lingfield selling win, while Supreme Salutation ran well when meeting trouble in running over course and distance last time and has certainly dropped to a favourable mark. Given that this is arguably his best trip, Active Account has not been tried over it too much recently but, now on a more reasonable mark and with cheekpieces fitted for the first time, a good run is not a forlorn possibility. Favouring probably has it to prove in handicap company but steps up in trip today, while Diction is also stepping up in trip but needs also to step up on recent form. Crusoe is capable from his current mark but is also inconsistent, Kumakawa has a fairly similar profile, but the other pair are difficult to fancy, even accounting for first-time cheekpieces for Nicozetto. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Abbeygate.
Quiet Reading (USA) 10-1 (8-12) Held up in touch, driven and headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, held on gamely, won at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Jan beating Figurative (8-9) by a hd, 11 ran.
Figurative (IRE) 13-8fav (8-9) Prominent, led after 2f, headed over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 2nd of 11, hd behind Quiet Reading (8-12) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Jan.
Abbeygate 12-1 (11-3) In touch, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 8th of 13, 14l behind Augustine (10-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f amt hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Supreme Salutation 12-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, outpaced over 4f out, headway over 1f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 9, 4l behind Latif (9-9) at Southwell 1m banded stk (7) fbs.
Active Account (USA) 9-1 (11-2) In rear, ridden over 4f out, never trouble leaders, 6th of 10, 24l behind Three Ships (11-1) at Southwell 1m 3f amt hcp (6) fbs.
Favouring (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression, 9th of 13, 6l behind Zorn (8-8) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Nisr 5-1 (8-13) In touch, squeezed through approaching final furlong, ran on to lead near finish, won at Lingfield 1m sll (6) pol beating Exit Smiling (8-13) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Diction (IRE) 11-1 (9-0) Always behind, never on terms, 7th of 13, 12l behind Mister Elegant (8-9) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Jan.
