with leader, led narrowly when fell 4 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, not fluent 4th, led approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, edged right flat, all out
led, headed narrowly when left in lead 4 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, no extra flat
held up in rear, headway 5 out, left chasing leading pair 4 out, ridden and every chance when not fluent last, kept on, held towards finish
held up, ridden and weakened from 4 out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
A P McCoy takes over from Jenny Carr on FORTY FIVE today and the horse gets the vote. His previous rider did a fine job but there is no substitute for the man of the moment. Jonjo O'Neill's gelding comes here on the back of a comfortable success at Ludlow and he has deserved his 7lb higher mark today. The stable remain in good form and a mark of 100 might not be the ceiling of this horse's ability. Midnight Diamond is a course and distance winner but recent efforts have been poor and so a bigger threat could be the other course winner in the line-up Naughty By Nature. Rebecca Curtis' gelding was a faller last time out when still in with every chance and it would be a surprise were he not to feature in the first three assuming his jumping stands up. It's Rumoured and Federstar both need to bounce back from disappointing last outings, whilst Proper Article returns from an absence for a new canny yard and it would be no surprise to see him backed and run well. This doesn't look a strong race and Forty Five is nominated.
Proper Article (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 9, well behind Manhattan Boy (10-7) at Newbury 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Nov '06.
Naughty By Nature 7-2 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 4 out until fell 3 out in race won by Gold Reef (11-5) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Dec, 18 ran.
Midnight Diamond (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) In touch, pushed along before 3rd, weakened approaching 6th, tailed off, 8th of 19, well behind Youngstown (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan.
Royal Flynn 8-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 11, 29l behind Pinewood Legend (10-9) at Ayr 2m nov hcp hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Mapledurham (IRE) 100-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, behind 7th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Low Delta (11-12) at Towcester 2m 3f amt hcp hdl (5) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Federstar (GER) 22-1 (11-8) Always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Wychwoods Legend (11-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan, 19 ran.
Forty Five (IRE) 5-1 (10-7) Held up, headway 4th, led after 5th, ran on, won at Ludlow 2m ldy hcp hdl (4) gs in Dec beating Handy Ben (10-7) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.
It's Rumoured 6-1 (10-12) Led to after 1st, chased leader until weakened rapidly before 5th and pulled up 4 out in race won by Rosoff (10-9) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
Song In My Heart (IRE) 50-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 11th of 17, well behind Higgy's Boy (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
