chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, ridden and 1 length down 2 out, stayed on, always just held
led until 3rd, stayed handy, not fluent 10th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next
prominent, mistake 9th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up after 12th
held up, mistakes, ridden 14th, struggling 4 out, weakened after next
held up in rear, headway 13th, mistake next, went 3rd after 3 out until 2 out, weakened before last
chased leaders, lost place 4th, headway when hit 11th, mistake 4 out, soon outpaced, closed and went 3rd 2 out, no impression last
prominent, led 3rd, 1 length up 2 out, edged left before last, stayed on gamely
Midnight Target has come up against some decent novices in her four runs to date over fences and hasn’t been disgraced. She has to go on the short-list running in her first handicap and receiving weight all round, though tends to reserve her best for Ludlow and is unproven over this trip. FREE RANGE still has scope having had only two runs over fences. The step up to 3m is certain to suit Dan Skelton’s charge as he’s already won a couple of points over the distance. He’s preferred to chasing newcomer The Ogle Gogle Man though he, too, has won between the flags so should enjoy the switch to fences. Abbreviate is proving disappointing while Leith Hill Lad, Holbrook Park and Nobuttaboy will all need to do better than last time.
Abbreviate (GER) 5-1 (11-4) Held up in last pair, headway approaching 13th, ridden and struggling in 5th before 4 out, no chance when mistake next, 5th of 7, dist behind Dingo Dollar (11-8) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Holbrook Park 10-1 (11-6) Led, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up, at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Nobuttaboy (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Held up off the pace in last trio, weakened on long before 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Leith Hill Lad 9-2 (11-9) Mistakes, chased leaders, mistake 3rd, blundered next, hit 11th and reminders, 4th and held when blundered 4 out, eased and pulled up approaching 2 out, at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Free Range (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, blundered 3rd, mistake 7th, headway on outside after 13th, mistake and hampered 4 out, blundered 2 out, went 3rd last, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Hey Bill (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
The Ogle Gogle Man (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 12 1/4l behind Tommy Rapper (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 5f mdn (5) sft in Jan.
Midnight Target 12-1 (11-0) Led until pushed along before 4 out, soon lost 2nd, rallied under pressure into 2nd again 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 9l behind Happy Diva (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 4f (3) gs in Jan.
