tracked leader, not fluent 1st, led 4th, rider dropped whip after 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened flat
held up, in 5th, closed 8th, challenged before 2 out, every chance and hung right before last, no impression on winner inside final 100 yards, stayed on same pace
led until 4th, tracked leader until 8th, ridden 3 out, lost place next, weakened
tracked leaders, 2nd 8th, led 2 out, headed before last, stayed on same pace flat
put off by rival and reluctant to race, well behind until closed from 4th, took 4th flat, no impression
held up, in 4th, not fluent 4th, challenged from 2 out, led before last, clear inside final 100 yards, readily
reluctant to race and started very slowly, well behind, closed 6th, weakened after 4 out, mistake 2 out
NonRunner
Theligny followed a maiden hurdle success with victory in a novices event and tries his luck handicapping for the first time. Clonalig House won a handicap at Tipperary in August but the Irish raider has been well beaten subsequently after a hike in the weights. Stoneham and Arthurs Secret are upped in class on the back of placed efforts at Perth and Kelso respectively but DOVILS DATE faced a tougher task at Market Rasen last time when finishing a close-up third. A similar effort should see Tim Vaughan’s charge bang there at the finish once again.
Dovils Date 9-2 (11-3) Led until approaching 4th, mistake next, every chance 3 out, outpaced next, kept on well under pressure closing stages, 3rd of 5, 2 1/4l behind L'aigle Royal (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Faithful Mount 8-1 (9-2) Led until over 7f out, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 19 1/2l behind Fabricate (9-3) at Leicester 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Tap Night (USA) 25-1 (10-11) With leader, pushed along 4 out, weakened from 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 7, 34l behind Braavos (10-5) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Arthurs Secret 4-1 (11-10) Chased front pair, outpaced before 3 out, ridden after next, went 2nd before last, kept on, no impression with winner, 2nd of 7, 11l behind Makethedifference (10-12) at Kelso 2m hcp (4) gf in Oct.
Stoneham 9-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, headway when not clear run over 2f out, soon switched left, stayed on well inside final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 9, 10 1/2l behind La Bacouetteuse (9-1) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Clonalig House (IRE) 7-2fav (9-10) Held up, slight mistake 4 out, closed to chase leaders and pushed along after 3 out, 5th into straight, under pressure just in behind horses last, kept on same pace run-in, 5th of 11, 5 1/4l behind Emcon (10-10) at Listowel 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Sep.
Merchant Of Dubai 22-1 (9-8) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 13, 15 1/4l behind The Resdev Way (9-0) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Sep.
Theligny (FR) 4-6fav (11-5) Prominent, led 3 out, not fluent 2 out or last, stayed on well, in command towards finish, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct beating My Mo (11-5) by 2l, 8 ran.
