pushed along from start, chasing leaders on inside, pushed along and lost 3rd 3f out, weakened over 2f out
led, pushed clear over 2f out, ridden and reduced lead entering final furlong, headed and no extra close home
bit keen tracking leaders, went 2nd briefly 8f out, lost place over 7f out, ridden and beaten 3f out
chased leader until 8f out, chased leaders, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, hung left and weakened over 1f out
held up in last pair, good headway on outside over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, went 2nd over 1f out, closed inside final furlong, led towards finish
slowly into stride, always behind
soon chasing leaders out wide, went 2nd over 7f out, well held 2f out, soon ridden, hung left and lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened soon after
raced keenly tracking leaders, went 3rd 3f out, one pace and no impression final furlong
NO NAY BELLA defied a 5lb rise to land a double over 1m3f at Kempton. There looks more to come and the hat-trick beckons for Marco Botti’s filly. Arij wasn’t beaten far when fourth at Wolverhampton recently while Numberoneson has been hurdling without success but won on the Flat in Ireland last year. Dark Pine is another import from Ireland debuting for a new yard while Stamford Raffles’ recent third at Wolverhampton came in an amateurs’ race and Delta River makes his handicap bow.
Numberoneson (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Chased leader in 2nd, ridden along approaching 2 out and weakened quickly, soon pulled up, at Taunton 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
Arij (IRE) 6-1 (9-2) Mid-division, progress to chase leaders 2f out, kept on without threatening, 4th of 10, 1 1/2l behind Polyphony (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
No Nay Bella (IRE) 7-4fav (9-0) Always prominent, headway on outside over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (4) pol in Nov beating Culture (9-10) by 1l, 9 ran.
Delta River 10-1 (9-5) Close up, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 9l behind Father Of Jazz (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (5) pol in Dec.
Dark Pine (IRE) 10-3 (9-7) Soon setlled behind leaders, 6th halfway, ridden 2f out, no impression in 5th 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace, 7th of 13, 9 1/4l behind Salsa (9-2) at Thurles 1m mdn sft in Oct.
Stamford Raffles 66-1 (11-0) Slowly away, pushed along on the inner, ridden for effort over 2f out, kept on well inside final furlong without catching front pair, 3rd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Richard R H B (10-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Hold Fast (IRE) 10-1 (8-8) Keen tracked leaders, led over 7f out, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, weakened towards finish, 5th of 9, 5 1/2l behind No Nay Bella (9-0) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp fll (4) pol in Nov.
Channel Packet 10-1 (9-5) Prominent, hanging left 4f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 8, 6 3/4l behind Vive La Difference (9-2) at Newcastle 1m hcp (5) pol in Dec.
