took keen hold, pressed leader, left in lead 10f out, clear over 2f out, driven inside final furlong, headed near finish
held up in rear, headway 5f out, went 2nd 2f out, ran on inside final furlong to lead near finish
prominent, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway 12f out, not much room on inside and lost place 9f out, weakened over 5f out, tailed off
never in contention
handy early, mid-division, closed over 7f out, weakened over 2f out
held up towards rear on outside, struggling 8f out, tailed off
mid-division, ridden and struggling over 4f out
chased leaders on outside, pushed along and lost place over 7f out, no impression after
in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, edged left over 1f out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 6f out until ridden 2f out, weakened 1f out
mid-division, struggling over 4f out, soon behind
led, hung right from 11f out, headed 10f out, ran out 9f out
As ever the market will tell us more here but BE MY LIGHT looks worth another chance to score and is nominated ahead of Swing State and Dixie Bull. Our selection ran two promising races around the turn of the year and looked a future winner when chasing home Mizzurka at Taunton. She was accordingly well supported to land a Southwell contest before tailing off, but perhaps the filly didn't enjoy the Fibresand and back on turf she can prove best of an average looking bunch. Such is the lack of strength here that the penalised Swing State must enter the reckoning. Tony Carroll's charge won a moderate contest at Huntingdon on ground similar to today's, so despite the fact that form looks suspect she still showed a likeable attitude and that alone should see her go well. Dixie Bull is comfortably the most interesting of the newcomers, hailing as he does from the yard of Charlie Egerton. This son of Milan is bred to be decent enough and it'd come as no surprise were he to prove too good for those to have raced already, with the market likely to offer clues as to the likelihood of that scenario. Karzelle ran reasonably in a better race so must be considered here, especially if he improves for that experience whilst the booking of Daryl Jacob aboard Optimaxer catches the eye. Fountains Flypast and Dalmatique are other newcomers worth noting in the betting but without the market to guide us we'll plump for Be My Light.
Swing State 13-8fav (11-0) Mid-division, improved halfway, led 3f out, edged right over 1f out, strongly pressed inside final furlong, just prevailed, won at Huntingdon 2m NH flat (6) gf in Oct beating Moscow Tiger (11-0) by shd, 9 ran.
Fountains Flypast Broadway Flyer gelding out of Miss Flower Girl.
Karzelle 14-1 (10-7) Chased leaders until weakened over 2f out, 6th of 10, 23l behind Quousko De L'isop (10-12) at Warwick 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
Optimaxer (IRE) Accordion gelding out of Magheracar Lady.
Royal Role 8-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway over 6f out, weakened over 4f out, 7th of 10, 28l behind Quousko De L'isop (10-12) at Warwick 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
Smiles Better Fleetwood gelding out of Pondimari.
Winnetka Dancer Baryshnikov gelding out of Winnetka Gal.
Apres Moi 18-1 (10-10) Always towards rear, 12th of 15, 42l behind Tara Two Hills (11-3) at Bangor 2m 1f N H flat (5) gd in Oct '08.
Trifollet Kirkwall mare out of St Doughla's.
Welcome Wonder 33-1 (10-5) Chased winner to approaching straight, soon ridden and weakened quickly, tailed off, 11th of 13, 44l behind Deejan (10-12) at Ludlow 2m N H flat (4) sft in Dec.
Be My Light (IRE) 7-2 (10-7) Held up, pushed along halfway, behind final 6f, tailed off, last of 10, well behind There And Then (11-0) at Southwell 2m Nat Hunt Flat (AWT) (4yo) (4) std in Feb.
Dalmatique Shambo filly out of Damasquiner.
Dancing Legend 20-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 11th of 16, 24l behind Alpine Breeze (10-5) at Newbury 1m 4f 3yo flls NH flat (5) hvy in Dec.
Dixie Bull (IRE) Milan gelding out of Calora.
