tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, headway to chase winner over 2f out, no extra entering final furlong
towards rear, ridden over 3f out, weakened and eased over 2f out
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
made all, clear halfway, driven out
tracked leaders, chased winner over 6f out, ridden well over 2f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
reared start, in rear, effort over 3f out, headway over 1f out, chased winner entering final furlong, kept on towards finish
tracked winner, quickly weakened over 4f out, tailed off
Samson Quest gets the vote here with Blue Patrick and Cherished Number rating the main dangers. The selection won well last time out when beating Christmas Truce and although he has a penalty for that win he won with a little in hand and against largely out of form rivals he looks the one to be on. Blue Patrick rates there main danger on his best form but he has yet to prove effective over this trip and for that reason he is opposed. Linning Wine is another last time out that could go well as he defeated Nisr last time and that form has since been franked so he should be noted in the market. Cherished Number has the ability to go close but he does not always use it and at likely odds he looks worth taking on. Of the remainder Midnight Lace is dropping in grade and should be noted in the market but for the winner we return to Samson Quest.
Blue Patrick 7-4fav (9-0) Mid-division, headway to chase leader 3f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Alfonso (8-13) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-85 (4) fbs.
Play Master (IRE) 6-1 (8-11) Held up in touch and keen, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 13, 13l behind Parkview Love (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Shannon Arms (USA) 11-1 (9-4) Led, ridden, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, eased inside final furlong, 8th of 10, 8l behind Winthorpe (8-12) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs.
Coronado's Gold (USA) 12-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, chasedleader 2f out to approaching final furlong, weakened, 8th of 13, 9l behind Blue Hedges (7-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Cherished Number 12-1 (8-10) In touch, headway over 1f out, every chance final furlong, no extra close home, 4th of 13, 1 1/2l behind Hurricane Coast (9-8) at W'hampton 1m 1f clm (6) pol in Jan.
Linning Wine (IRE) 9-4jt-fav (9-3) Held up in rear, good headway going well over 1f out, led 1f out, soon clear, easily, won at Lingfield 1m clm (6) pol beating Nisr (8-10) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Jalouhar 10-3 (8-0) Hampered and lost place on bend after 1f, headway on inside when not clear run from well over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Spark Up (8-12) at W'hampton 7f hcp (6) pol.
Samson Quest 2-1fav (9-1) In rear, headway over 2f out, ran on strongly final furlong to lead last strides, won at Lingfield 1m sll (6) pol beating Christmas Truce (9-1) by a nk, 12 ran.
Midnight Lace 33-1 (9-2) Mid-division to halfway, soon behind, last of 13, 33l behind Kindlelight Debut (8-10) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
