chased leaders, pushed along 7f out, weakened over 4f out, tailed off
tracked front pair, pulled hard, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leader, led after 1f, clear over 2f out, easily
ran green and pushed along in last, ridden 12f out, tailed off final 6f
Handmaid won a mares' only event at Worcester in June and carries a penalty for that success. WESTERN WAY may prove too good today as he went close at the same track last month when runner-up to the unbeaten Cole Harden. Don Cantillon's charge should have the beating of these with a similar effort. Motorhead and Gabby's Star are hard to fancy on the evidence of their debuts and Twice Shy makes more appeal than Private Jones of the newcomers.
Handmaid 5-4fav (10-10) In touch in 4th, led over 3f out, clear final furlong, won at Worcester 2m mares n h flat (6) gf in Jun beating Dardanella (10-13) by 4l, 12 ran.
Motorhead 40-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, plugged on final 2f, never involved, 5th of 11, 19l behind Doctor Harper (11-7) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn nat hunt flat (5) sft in Dec.
Private Jones Trade Fair gelding out of Dafne.
Western Way (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 7f out, went 3rd 2 out, soon hung left, swishing tail when hit with whip 1f out, rallied inside final furlong, not able to trouble winner, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Cole Harden (11-2) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gd in Aug.
Gabbys Star 20-1 (10-7) Chased leader 3f, in touch, weakening when ran out 7f out and pulled up, in a race won by Garnock (10-0) at Stratford 2m NH flat (6) gf, 8 ran.
Twice Shy (IRE) Winged Love mare out of Juno Beach.
