tracked leaders, effort on inner over 1f out, kept on same pace and lost 3rd close home
in touch, pushed along over 2f out, soon weakened, tailed off
made most, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and pressed inside final furlong, ran on
towards rear, ridden and headway inside final furlong, stayed on to go 3rd close home
raced wide in touch, pushed along and headway entering final furlong, not trouble leaders
raced wide close up, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
pressed winner, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish
dwelt towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, never on terms
in touch, ridden 2f out, soon weakened
in rear, ridden and headway entering final furlong, soon edged right, not trouble leaders
FIRST LINK has won three of five outings so far this year and given the ease of her latest course and distance success hasn’t finished improving yet. She’s taken to defy a further 5lb rise and confirm running here in January with Chica De La Noche. The latter went on to score at Kempton and also beat Conqueress at the end of last year while the unexposed More Than More makes her handicap debut on her return to action and could also go well. Helfire hinted at a return to form when placed over a mile here recently ahead of Met By Moonlight having tumbled down the weights since last winning.
First Link (USA) 4-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders 1f, close up, pushed along and headway inside final furlong, ran on to lead towards finish, won at Lingfield 7f hcp (5) pol in Mar beating Marshal Dan (9-3) by 1l, 14 ran.
More Than More (USA) 2-1jfav (8-11) Held up in touch, outpaced over 2f out, no impression, 6th of 8, 9 3/4l behind Holy Heart (9-2) at Kempton 1m stks (5) pol in Dec.
Met By Moonlight 33-1 (9-5) Mid-division, headway on outside chasing leaders over 3f out, went 2nd 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, chased leaders and every chance inside final furlong, weakened towards finish, 4th of 10, 1 3/4l behind Gainsay (9-4) at Lingfield 1m hcp fll (5) pol in Mar.
Chica De La Noche 8-1 (8-2) Prominent early, chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 1 3/4l behind Puds (9-3) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp fll (4) pol in Mar.
Sonnet Rose (IRE) 8-1 (8-2) Edged right start, chased leaders, switched right over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 7th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Puds (9-3) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp fll (4) pol in Mar.
Sarasota (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Pressed winner after 1f, shaken up 2f out, soon outpaced, ridden and no impression over 1f out, lost place inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 3l behind Velvet Morn (8-11) at Kempton 6f stks (5) pol in Mar.
Diamond Lady 14-1 (9-8) Soon led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 6th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Storm Melody (9-4) at Lingfield 7f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Gloweth 16-1 (8-13) Never better than mid-division, 8th of 14, 12 1/4l behind Livvys Dream (9-4) at Windsor 1m hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Conqueress (IRE) 33-1 (9-4) Close up, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 11, 3 3/4l behind Chica De La Noche (9-4) at Lingfield 7f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Helfire 10-1 (8-8) Held up in mid-division, headway on wide outside chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden to lead entering furlong, headed inside final 150 yards, lost 2nd last strides, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Gainsay (9-4) at Lingfield 1m hcp fll (5) pol in Mar.
