mid-division on inside, mistake 6th and dropped towards rear, pulled up after 4 out
in rear, struggling from 4th, pulled up after 7th
held up, struggling from 6 out, pulled up after 4 out
made all, not fluent 5 out, increased tempo home turn, well clear last, easily
mid-division, fell 4th
chased leader, pushed along and outpaced home turn, lost distant 2nd last
prominent, pushed along when mistake and unseated rider 4 out
mid-division, pushed along and outpaced home turn, stayed on into distant 2nd last
held up, pushed along from 4 out, behind when pulled up after 3 out
NonRunner
Ballinslea Bridge won over 3m here at the start of the month but is 7lb higher today and HOMETOWN HERO, who also stays further, is preferred. He hasn’t done a lot wrong in his two runs over fences to date and won a novice hurdle over 2m4f here back in February. Fakir hasn’t reproduced the form of his Fontwell win in September but Whistleinthedark is interesting given his point-to-point background and Betty Baloo has won two bumpers and a hurdle and placed around here. Catterick winner Duke Of Luckley still looks well treated but has been found wanting when going beyond 2m in the past and East Street was never travelling at Doncaster last month.
Fakir (FR) 7-1 (11-2) Held up, pushed along and outpaced approaching 3 out, plugged on in distant 3rd, 3rd of 5, 14 1/4l behind Stormin Crossgales (10-12) at Wincanton 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Clondaw Secret (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Soon chased leaders and 4th from halfway, pushed along and lost place before 2 out, ridden and no impression from before last, 11th of 12, 19 1/4l behind Mindsmadeup (11-10) at Down Royal 3m hcp sft in Oct.
Hometown Hero (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, went second approaching 3 out, ridden to challenge before next, kept on from 2 out, lost second final 50yds, 3rd of 7, 5 1/2l behind Aire Valley Lad (10-2) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Whistleinthedark (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Held up in touch, not fluent 1st, effort 3 out, challenged 2 out, led and mistake last, headed flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Charm Offensive (12-0) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Diomede Des Mottes (FR) 80-1 (11-6) Held up in mid division, chased leaders 4 out, soon ridden, ran on, 7th of 10, 18l behind Tea For Free (12-0) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
East Street (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Tracked leader, dropped to rear 7th, soon pushed along, held and weakened 3 out, 3rd of 4, 33 1/4l behind Nothin To Ask (12-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Ballinslea Bridge (IRE) 12-1 (11-13) Towards rear, headway to be prominent 8th, led 9th, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and hung right before last, stayed on gamely run-in, always doing enough, won at Market Rasen 3m hcp (5) gs in Dec beating Future Benefits (10-13) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Betty Baloo 5-2 (12-0) Led until 2nd, prominent, outpaced before 2 out, kept on flat, closed on 2nd, no impression on winner, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Will Victory (12-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Duke Of Luckley (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) 2nd approaching 2nd and after 4th, ridden and struggling in 5th 3 out, stayed on strongly out wide run-in, led post, (limited comments due to poor visibility, unofficial time), won at Catterick 2m hcp (5) gs in Nov beating Blue Hawaii (12-0) by shd, 6 ran.
Lady Of The Night 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, jumped right 1st, mistake and unseated rider 4th, at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
