held up mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, some headway, no impression
towards rear and keen, ridden 3f out and some headway, never dangerous
slowly away, in rear and outpaced, struggling from over 4f out
chased leader until over 5f out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway over 6f out, led approaching 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on well, eased towards finish
held up behind, struggling from halfway, tailed off
held up towards rear, chased leaders over 9f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
tracked leaders, went 2nd over 4f out, led over 2f out, soon headed, faded final furlong
tracked leaders, pushed along 4f out, weakened well over 3f out
led 2f and keen, lost place over 7f out
close up, led after 2f, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened
On paper this looks a competitive maiden for the track with a number of top yards represented, but we will side with LOCAL HERO to see them all off. Steve Gollings has his string in good form and his colt improved from first run to second when making the frame in a big field maiden at Nottingham last time. He does have it to prove on the ground, but the step up in trip is very much a positive and he may be worth chancing. Astral Flower is proving very expensive to follow and Protaras might be a bigger danger now upped in distance. Gay Mirage is another with it to prove in these conditions and connections will be hopeful that the headgear has a positive effect, while Strictly Lambada goes on soft ground and sees this out well, so he is much respected.
Ballyday (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Held up, pushed along 4th, soon weakened, 9th of 10, well behind Secret Pact (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in Nov '06.
Broughton Beck (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Led 1f, tracked leader after, ridden and lost second over 2f out, one pace after and lost 3rd final furlong, 4th of 6, 8l behind Sign Of Approval (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol in Feb '09.
Dr Valentine (FR) 8-1 (8-10) Tracked leader until 9f out, tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Dunaskin (8-12) at Southwell 1m 3f sell stks (6) fbs in Mar.
Nodforms Violet (IRE) 33-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, chased winner 4f, in rear and hampered on bend when outpaced over 5f out, went poor 3rd over 2f out, never dangerous, 3rd of 4, 43l behind Peligroso (9-2) at Leicester 1m 4f cond Stakes (3) hvy in Oct.
Bottomless Wallet 200-1 (8-10) Tracked leader, lost place 3f out, last of 14, 39l behind Eijaaz (9-4) at Catterick 1m 4f app clm stks (6) gd in Oct.
Local Hero (GER) 66-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, headway on outer over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 16, 3 1/2l behind Pekan Star (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Machir Bay 14-1 (9-3) Mid-division, outpaced 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 14, 17l behind Hakuna Matata (9-3) at Newcastle 7f mdn auc stks (6) hvy in Oct.
Protaras (USA) 5-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, one pace, 6th of 16, 7l behind Pekan Star (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Astral Flower 13-8fav (8-12) Tracked leader, led 5f out, headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 9l behind Wulfrida (8-12) at Kempton 1m 4f mdn auc stks (5) pol in Sep.
Gay Mirage (GER) 2-1fav (8-12) Prominent, led after 3f, headed 4f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 10, 17l behind Penangdouble O One (9-3) at Kempton 1m 4f mdn auc stks (5) pol in Oct.
Mon Mon (IRE) 28-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader 3f out until 2f out, 8th of 11, 18l behind Doctor Zhivago (9-3) at Southwell 1m 2yo mdn stks (5) fbs in Dec.
Strictly Lambada 7-2 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, plugged on one pace, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Gakalina (8-12) at Brighton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gd in Oct.
No Rain (IRE) 15-8 (8-11) In touch, outpaced 3f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 12, 9l behind Commerce (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn auc stks (6) pol in Oct.
Silvan Stream 13-2 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, soon lost place, no impression after, 7th of 13, 13l behind Titivation (8-12) at Nottingham 1m mdn stks (5) gs in Sep.
