in touch, ridden and switched right approaching final furlong, no impression
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 1f out
held up, behind, ridden 2f out, plugged on
steadied start, held up, smooth headway over 2f out, ridden to lead well inside final furlong
steadied start, soon led and set no pace, ridden 2f out, one pace final furlong
steadied start, rider not happy with pace, led and soon clear after 2f, shaken up 1f out, no extra and headed well inside final furlong
This looks like it will be played out between bottom weight Old Romney and top weight BASRA with the last mentioned getting the vote while Ruff Diamond shouldn't be ignored either. Basra will have to give his nearest rival eight pounds but is running well off this and similar ratings including winning off just a pound lower on his penultimate start. That form has since been stood up and he just missed out off this rating last time. Old Romney is now eleven pounds above his last winning mark but has looked like an improving sort in his last two starts. He's up a further three pounds from his near miss last time but if his profile continues on the upward curve he could well take this. It was Ruff Diamond's performance in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham, when not disgraced in defeat, that supports this one's chances and he also looked good over course and distance off this rating on his penultimate start. The remaining three in the field Royal Amnesty, Silver Hotspur and Emperor Court have chances if reproducing their very best but Basra seems to have most in his favour.
Basra (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) In rear of main group, switched left and headway on inside approaching final furlong, pressed winner inside final furlong, no extra near finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind King Olav (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Silver Hotspur 10-1 (9-3) Held up, shaken up 2f out, no impression, 6th of 9, 8l behind Intabih (9-3) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-85 (4) fbs.
Emperor Court (IRE) 9-1 (9-5) Led, ridden and headed approaching 3f out, weakened 1f out, 7th of 9, 11l behind Folio (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Jan.
Royal Amnesty 9-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, mid-division, effort over 1f out, kept on, 5th of 11, 3l behind Stand Guard (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Feb.
Ruff Diamond (USA) 13-2 (8-10) Held up in last place but not far away, ridden over 2f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong to take 3rd close home, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Planetary Motion (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcap (4) pol in Feb.
Old Romney 11-4fav (9-3) Held up in rear, headway on bit entering final 2f, ridden to lead briefly inside final furlong, no answer to late challenge, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Trifti (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) std.
