mid-division, weakened after 6th
held up, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, hung right approaching 2 out, one pace
held up, headway to go in touch 4th, tracked leader 3 out, soon led, clear last
mid-division, blundered 4th, headway 6th, ridden when mistake 3 out, chasing leaders, one pace
mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened
never dangerous
in touch, ridden 4 out, headway soon after, tracked winner 2 out, no chance
in touch, lost place 4th, stayed on from 3 out, took 3rd close home
led, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
towards rear, headway 5th, weakened after next
held up, ridden and weakened 3 out
tracked leader, weakened 5th
tracked leaders, weakening and mistake 5th
tracked leaders, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division and keen, headway 5th, ridden next, weakening when pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway 5th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
MARKILA is a speculative selection in this mares only contest; Moonlight Music and Shiny Thing also merit respect, while Novarra has experience of this course and, as she gets on well Felix De Giles, she shouldn't be underestimated either. Novarra won a seller here on her penultimate start and, with form working out well, she has to be given a chance of making the frame again today. Her jockey knows how to stoke her along and a big run can be expected from the seven-year-old. Shiny Thing has not been seen out for over a thousand days, so her fitness has got to be taken on trust. Still, her trainer, Alan King, is hardly renowned for persevering with lost causes; so this lightly raced mare is one to monitor closely in the betting. The likelihood of testing conditions will create a stiff test for her reappearance, though. Moonlight Music will appreciate the ground and, having gone close on a couple of occasions of late, she has to be considered as a player in this company. However, Markila made steady progress during her time with Henrietta Knight and she is taken as the one with the more scope for improvement on these terms. Now with a trainer (Henry Daly) that has a great strike-rate at this course, Markila follows a tried and trusted path and is given the nod as the best betting proposition in a tricky race.
Shiny Thing (USA) 9-2jt-fav (10-7) Held up in touch, effort and going well 5th, led 2 out, hit last, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Gaelic Flight (10-10) at N Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Apr '06.
Line Artic (FR) 16-1 (10-7) Towards rear, ridden and headway approachintg 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 18, 27l behind Calusa Crystal (10-10) at Wincanton 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Markila (FR) 16-1 (11-0) In touch, ridden after 3 out, stayed on from next, 2nd of 15, 3l behind Jeu d'Esprit (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f mrs mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Novarra (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Towards rear, pushed along and outpaced 4 out, kept on one pace from 2 out, 4th of 18, 25l behind Gold Reef (11-5) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Boogie Dancer 125-1 (10-6) Raced keenly, led to 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 12th of 13, 39l behind Dee Ee Williams (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Reasontobecheerful 20-1 (11-6) Behind, hit 4th, headway to chase leaders after 2 out, weakened after last, 5th of 14, 11l behind Ruby Crown (10-10) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs hcp hdl (4) gs.
Miss Pebbles (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden when badly hampered 3 out, not recover, 8th of 16, 50l behind Pearl (10-13) at Chepstow 2m mrs hcp hdl (5) hvy.
Ruby Crown 5-2fav (11-12) In rear, plugged on towards finish, 5th of 16, 42l behind Pearl (10-13) at Chepstow 2m mrs hcp hdl (5) hvy.
Hearty Dove 5-2fav (10-7) Led, driven and headed 2 out, soon outpaced, kept on until no extra flat, 4th of 12, 8l behind Cruise Director (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Cat Six (USA) 25-1 (11-3) In rear, pushed along, long run to approaching 2 out, weakened after 2 out, 9th of 13, 30l behind Naughty By Nature (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Ruby Valentine (FR) 22-1 (10-8) Always behind, 13th of 17, 34l behind Three Thieves (11-2) at Doncaster 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Dec.
Moonlight Music (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Prominent, led after 4 out, no extra when headed last, 2nd of 16, 3/4l behind Pearl (10-13) at Chepstow 2m mrs hcp hdl (5) hvy.
Gobejolly 11-1 (11-3) Mid-division, steady headway 4th, weakened 3 out, 9th of 16, well behind Pearl (10-13) at Chepstow 2m mrs hcp hdl (5) hvy.
She's No Muppet 66-1 (10-3) Took keen hold, mostly chased leader, led 3 out, drew well clear between last two, pushed along run-in, won at Folkestone 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl (5) gs beating Festival Dreams (10-4) by 9l, 15 ran.
Bosamcliff (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Mistake 1st, chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, blundered and weakened 3 out, 8th of 17, well behind Higgy's Boy (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Taran Tregarth 28-1 (11-2) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 6th of 14, 28l behind Woody Valentine (11-4) at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Dec.
Simplified 25-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, saddle slipped 2nd and pulled up at the 3rd in race won by Emotive (11-2) at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs, 15 ran.
Lilac 14-1 (11-6) Raced keenly, prominent, led 6th until approaching 12th, weakened after 15th, 4th of 13, 16l behind Caislean Na Deirge (10-13) at Ludlow 3m amt hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Oct '07.
