tracked leaders, slow 12th, effort 2 out, weakened before last
held up in touch, travelled strongly, smooth headway 5 out, chased winner approaching last, kept on well under pressure
tracked leaders, 3rd after 3 out, lost place before last
made all, jumped right throughout, hard driven when challenged from 2 out, ran on well
held up towards rear, headway 10th, slow 13th, rallied 3 out, weakened after next
behind, smooth headway after 3 out, chased leaders approaching last, soon hard ridden to challenge, kept on well
Shocks have not been uncommon in this mares’ Listed handicap but The Bay Birch is sure to be popular as she looked to have plenty in hand last time at Exeter, though neither a penalty nor drying ground are in her favour. SOCKSY has never raced on going this quick but there is no reason why she should be inconvenienced. She had Tara Mist behind when second in a valuable handicap at Haydock last month and is only a pound higher. Aunty Ann looks up against it on her return to action and it’s even harder to fancy Sheer Poetry and Pretty Reckless on these terms but Midnight Target has generally taken well to fences and shouldn’t be ignored.
Tara Mist 9-1 (11-7) Held up in mid-division, headway on inside 12th, jumped right and mistake 4 out, led 2 out, headed before last, no extra flat, 5th of 10, 12 3/4l behind Rons Dream (11-10) at Haydock 2m 6f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Socksy (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Prominent, slow 12th, not fluent next, led after 14th, edged right after 4 out, jumped left 3 out, headed 2 out, still every chance last, no impression on winner flat, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Rons Dream (11-10) at Haydock 2m 6f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
The Bay Birch (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Patiently ridden in last pair, good headway into 3rd at 9th, led going strongly 4 out, clear before last, very easily, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Apr beating Duhallow Lad (10-9) by 9l, 6 ran.
Aunty Ann (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders on outside, 2nd 5th until 14th, not fluent 3 out, mistake and beaten from 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 11, 15 3/4l behind The Happy Chappy (11-3) at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Midnight Target 9-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, lost place when not much room 10th, mistake next, hampered 4 out, not much room 3 out, modest 4th 2 out, 4th of 8, 19 1/2l behind Same Circus (11-2) at Bangor 3m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Sheer Poetry (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, behind when mistake 11th, badly hampered 12th, soon pulled up, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Pretty Reckless (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, effort 3 out, never dangerous, 10th of 13, 26 3/4l behind Miss Tynte (11-7) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Apr.
