JOLLY RANCH ran well on her first try here and can go one better to take this from Style Award and Best One. The filly took second behind a bang in-form sort last time and a 2lb rise for that effort looks fair. She's done all her racing at the minimum trip and has proved to be a consistent sort for the grade, so despite slight reservations about her attitude she gets the vote from Style Award. The mare has won here before off a much higher mark and ran well last time. Given a break since, she should run a solid race and is narrowly preferred to Best One of the remainder. The last-named won at Southwell back in December and wasn't far behind our selection when last they met. A 1lb pull in the weights might not be enough to reverse the form but this one should still run well. Monsieur Reynard also ran it that race and has a 3lb pull to close the gap on the two that finished ahead of him but he's winless from 13 starts on artificial surfaces and looks booked for a place at best. Those mentioned look to hold by far the most solid claims but of the rest Steel City Boy merits respect having suffered a troubled passage last time, but he'll need to improve to score and that looks unlikely given his age. Similar comments apply to the 12-year-old Taboor who hasn't been at his best lately, Nawaaff at least has the assistance of Martin Dwyer but will need it, and the others all look held off their current marks. Only four that look likely to hold serious claims and of that quartet Jolly Ranch is selected.
Style Award 11-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on to take 3rd close home, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Forever's Girl (9-2) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Especially Special (IRE) 50-1 (8-10) Held up, headway to track leaders halfway, ridden and weakened over 1f out, last of 9, 7l behind Thoughtsofstardom (8-7) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Steel City Boy (IRE) 25-1 (8-5) Slowly into stride, in rear, never a factor, 7th of 9, 4l behind Fromsong (8-9) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Monsieur Reynard 5-2 (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden and slightly outpaced 2f out, switched right inside final furlong, staying on when hampered towards finish, 5th of 8, 1 1/2l behind Spinning Bailiwick (10-0) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Jolly Ranch 8-1 (8-9) Led, ridden over 1f out, hung right inside final furlong, driven and headed post, 2nd of 8, nk behind Spinning Bailiwick (10-0) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Best One 4-1 (8-13) With leader, ridden to lead narrowly over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 5th of 13, 3l behind Mr Funshine (8-4) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Dec.
Gleaming Spirit (IRE) 100-1 (8-4) Chased winner, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 6, 9l behind Glamorous Spirit (9-0) at Lingfield 5f clm stks (6) pol in Dec.
Nawaaff 14-1 (8-7) Led 5f out until 4f out, prominent, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 11, 4l behind Only A Game (8-13) at Lingfield 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Taboor (IRE) 25-1 (8-4) In rear, never nearer, 10th of 15, 7l behind Rosie Says No (9-2) at Yarmouth 5f hcp 0-60 (6) gd in Oct.
Magic Glade 33-1 (8-9) Led on rail, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened rapidly, last of 8, 18l behind Matterofact (9-4) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
