hampered soon after start, raced keenly towards rear, switched right over 2f out, good headway soon after, edged left and led inside final furlong, ran on
went right start, hampered soon after, always behind, lost touch over 4f out, tailed off
chased leaders, went 2nd over 5f out to well over 2f out, hampered soon after, weakened
led, headed over 5f out, weakened over 4f out, tailed off
held up in touch, ridden well over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong
went right start, prominent, niggled along from 6f out, lost place 5f out, tried to close again and hung left over 1f out, soon weakened
edged left soon after start, held up in mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, soon one pace
mid-division, headway over 4f out, went 2nd over 2f out, led well over 1f out, soon ridden, edged left, headed inside final furlong, no extra
chased leader, led over 5f out, headed well over 1f out, soon weakened
hampered start, badly hampered soon after, in rear, headway on outside well over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Fresh Mint is in cracking form and can defy a penalty to complete a hat-trick here, with Mighty Mover, Birkside and Speagle all respected. The selection has scored over both 11 and 12 furlongs at Kempton just lately and the latter success was a fair bit more comfortable than the official margin suggested. Mark Wallace has chosen to run him under a penalty rather than wait for the handicapper's reassessment and we should take the hint and get on. Mighty Mover steps back up in trip from nine furlongs. He has been running very well but there are plenty of stamina doubts over this trip where he is concerned. Birkside won five off the reel is claimers and sellers and was not far away in a minor handicap here last time. Again, however, it is doubtful he truly gets this trip. Speagle certainly does get home and is pitched back into a handicap after running well in a seller last time. He could turn out to be the major threat to our selection, but Fresh Mint is a confident choice.
Birkside 7-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, raced keenly, held up, headway 4f out, chased winner 2f out, hung left from over 1f out, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Lobengula (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Three Thieves (UAE) 4-1 (9-4) In rear, outpaced over 2f out, never a factor, 6th of 7, 14l behind Wild Fell Hall (9-7) at Salisbury 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
Speagle (IRE) 6-5fav (9-2) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Veloso (9-2) at W'hampton 1m 4f sll (6) pol in Nov.
Kapellmeister (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Close up, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 11, 14l behind Will He Wish (9-6) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct.
Punta Galera (IRE) 33-1 (9-10) Tracked leader, ridden over 3f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Master At Arms (9-2) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov.
Gamesters Lady 4-1 (9-4) Slowly away, never going well and always behind, last of 9, 20l behind Coral Creek (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f fll hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Evita 5-2fav (9-4) Held up in mid-division, headway under pressure on outside 2f out, hung left over 1f out, soon beaten, 7th of 9, 8l behind Right Option (8-4) at W'hampton 1m 4f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Fresh Mint (IRE) 9-4fav (8-13) Tracked leader 3f, ridden to lead 2f out, clear 1f out, ran on strongly, won at Kempton 1m 4f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Nov beating Sir Sandicliffe (8-6) by 2l, 10 ran.
Mighty Mover (IRE) 10-3 (9-2) Led, ridden over 3f out, headed over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Waterloo Corner (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Opera Writer (IRE) 9-2 (9-2) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Master At Arms (9-2) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov.
