Verdict

Patavium Prince beat Glastonberry here in December and the latter went on to beat Hereford Boy. Jo Crowley's charge is just one of a few with legitimate claims and that list also includes recent Kempton winner Welsh Inlet and Arachnophobia, a runner-up at the same track last month. Purley Queen has a shout at her best but SPIRIT OF XAAR looks to have finally dropped down to a mark he can win off judged on his latest second over a mile here. He gets the speculative vote to go one better in this.

Formwatch

Patavium Prince (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to challenge well inside final furlong, led final stride, won at Lingfield 7f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec beating Amosite (9-4) by hd, 12 ran.

Hereford Boy 20-1 (8-13) Broke smartly, led narrowly after 2f, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on, 4th of 5, 3l behind Whispering Warrior (9-7) at Lingfield 1m hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Jan.

Welsh Inlet (IRE) 8-1 (8-8) Close up, ridden and slightly outpaced over 2f out, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Jack My Boy (9-0) at Lingfield 7f app hcp (0-70) (4yo+) (5) pol in Jan.

Baby Dottie 10-1 (8-11) Raced wide until led after 1f, clear halfway, ridden 2f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Frognal (9-12) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.

Purley Queen (IRE) 33-1 (9-6) Slowly away, towards rear, headway on outer over 1f out, ridden and stayed on to go a never dangerous 3rd near finish, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Dashwood (9-7) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.

Spirit of Xaar (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Travelled well in touch, driven to challenge over 1f out, stayed on well, always held, 2nd of 10, nk behind Mubtadi (8-11) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan.

Sannibel 6-1 (9-4) Towards rear, ridden entering final furlong, 5th of 9, 8l behind Methaaly (9-0) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.

Arachnophobia (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Led, ridden and headed inside final furlong, not pace of winner, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Vitznau (9-7) at Kempton 7f hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Jan.

Ensnare 25-1 (9-3) Always behind, last of 10, 6l behind Mubtadi (8-11) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan.

My Scat Daddy (USA) 3-1fav (9-1) In rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 7th of 12, 4l behind Fonterutoli (9-6) at Lingfield 1m hcp (0-55) (6) pol.

Jackie Love (IRE) 14-1 (8-6) Towards rear, ridden 2f out, ran on final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Spinning Ridge (8-13) at Lingfield 7f app hcp 0-60 (6) pol.