chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, soon driven and one pace
towards rear, fell 2nd
mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon no impression
mid-division, ridden 3 out, never dangerous
always towards rear, never on terms
in touch, headway to lead approaching 2 out, driven out from last
towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on well from 2 out
led, headed approaching 6th, one pace from 2 out
towards rear, ridden 7th, stayed on well from 2 out
towards rear, ridden 3 out, blundered next, one pace from last
prominent, led approaching 6th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten
A very poor contest to commence the card, where few are either in form, or are confirmed soft ground performers, and we will tentatively suggest BAILEYS BENCHMARK to score, while Shut The Bar and Broadway Star are among potential dangers. If you do want to bet then small stakes are suggested, but Baileys Benchmark is given the vote after a good effort in defeat on soft ground at Market Rasen last time. This sort of trip looks to be ideal, and if he can cope with a tough-enough 7lb rise for that recent run then he might just be good enough. Shut The Bar was a winner of a bumper here on good to soft at the beginning of the year and his sole hurdling success also came when there was some cut. He is 1lb lower than when well beaten at Taunton last time and he should get involved once again, though he is unproven at this trip. Simple Jim has been very well placed to land four of his last six starts on the flat and over hurdles and this trip will suit him, but the combination of a 6lb rise for his latest success and this much slower ground will not play to his strengths. Hawksbury Heights looked to be in the grip of the assessor at Kelso, while Itstooearly was found out by a searching 20lb rise from the handicapper prior to his last start and also looks anchored. Ballabrook comes from a yard going well, but he has plenty to prove on the ground, although he will stay and is worth a market check. Rose Dobbin's Broadway Star acted well enough on soft ground way back on his debut, and he sees out this trip well enough. Still open to improvement, this six-year-old could go close here. Waltham Abbey acts on good to soft and stays at least this far, though his better efforts have been on a sound surface, and we prefer Baileys Benchmark.
Shut The Bar 11-4fav (11-8) Led, headed 5th, remained close up, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 9, 20l behind Kashmina (10-2) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Waltham Abbey 12-1 (11-13) Led, clear until 7th, headed soon after, weakening when blundered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Festival Dreams (9-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May, 14 ran.
Broadway Star (FR) 12-1 (11-8) Held up mid division, effort 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, well behind Dinarius (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Simple Jim (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 2 out, ridden to challenge last, kept on under pressure flat, led on line, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Nov beating Sea Venture (11-5) by ns, 13 ran.
Hawksbury Heights 6-1 (10-11) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, never on terms, 8th of 13, 42l behind Still At Lunch (11-5) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Mini Minster 33-1 (11-6) Raced keenly, jumped right, led 1st, headed 7th, already weakened when mistake 3 out, 12th of 14, 46l behind Last Flight (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in May.
Cripsey Brook 22-1 (10-6) Held up, headway when mistake 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 44l behind Peters Star (10-7) at Haydock 3m 1f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) hvy in Nov.
Ballabrook (IRE) 17-2 (10-6) Held up, headway on inside 6th, hard ridden and hanging left before 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Bureaucrat (10-4) at Hereford 2m 4f sell (5) gd in Nov.
Baileys Benchmark 33-1 (9-11) Mid-division, headway 7th, led 3 out, hit next, driven and headed flat, kept on, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind River Logic (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) hvy in Nov.
I'm Your Man 10-1 (11-2) Led to before 2nd, chased clear leader to 12th, soon one pace, weakened flat, 6th of 12, 17l behind Garleton (11-4) at Hexham 2m 4f cond hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Itstooearly 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, effort to chase leaders 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 13l behind Annie May (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Sonny Sam (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway when mistake 3 out, weakened under pressure before 2 out, 6th of 13, 25l behind Supreme de Paille (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gf in Mar.
Ardesia (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Always behind, struggling from 5th, tailed off next, 6th of 8, 39l behind Calzaghe (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Nov.
