keen, soon in touch, weakened 6th, behind when mistake next, pulled up before 3 out
held up and keen, headway 6th, weakened 2 out
held up, steady headway 6th, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened last
in touch, led approaching 3rd, headed 6th, ridden and close up 3 out, weakened 2 out
led, headed approaching 3rd, lost place 6th, weakened 4 out
always in the rear, pulled up before last
held up, ridden and outpaced 4 out, stayed on, switched left approaching last, soon hung left under pressure, kept on
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 6th, pulled up approaching 7th
held up, headway after 8th, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened last
tracked leader, reminders 5th, driven 4 out, close up 3 out, weakened next
in touch, led 6th, ridden and headed approaching last, rallied again flat, just failed
held up, headway 4 out, chased leading pair 3 out, one pace flat
held up, ridden and headway 4 out, stayed on well to lead approaching last, all out
Second division of the three mile maiden hurdles and we will side with KING FONTAINE in the hope that this longer trip will bring about some improvement. The selection, a six-year-old son of King's Theatre, comes here on the back of a third place at the track in November. Whilst his relatives have tended to be best over intermediate trips, the way that he ran suggested that stamina may be his forte. Normally is a newcomer to watch in the betting coming from a yard whose winners are normally well-backed and this Irish point-to-point winner has shown ability, whilst so has Durante who returns from a period off the track. Blue Dark represents Alan King who is not having the most profitable spell at the moment and this gelding needs to improve on his debut sixth, whilst Claras Chestnut is an interesting Irish challenger. Charles Byrnes doesn't send many across, not least for an average pot like this, so any market support should be noted for this strong stayer. At a price Mr Mackay could run a big race but punters are more likely to get out of jail with King Fontaine.
Ariodante 40-1 (11-0) Held up, never a factor and pulled up at the last in race won by Jeepstar (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gs in Nov, 14 ran.
Baren De Doc (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Led, ridden 4 out, headed after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 14, 26l behind Michel Le Bon (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Blue Dark (FR) 10-3 (11-0) Chased leaders, pushed along 7th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 11, well behind Star Lord (11-0) at Southwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Celian (FR) 20-1 (11-2) Made most to over 6f out, weakened over 4f out, tailed off, 10th of 14, 45l behind Sherwani Wolf (10-13) at Plumpton 2m 2f nhf (6) sft in Dec.
Claras Chestnut (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, weakened from 4 out, 8th of 15, 49l behind Watchurhouse (11-9) at Tramore 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Dec.
Durante (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Chased leader, reminders 2nd, led 2nd, ridden after 3 out, joined 2 out, headed soon after last, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1l behind Trigger The Light (11-6) at Warwick 3m nov chs (3) sft in Mar.
Finmere (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Towards rear, behind from 3rd and pulled up at the 5th in race won by Bensalem (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov, 16 ran.
Junior Jimble (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Mid-division until weakened after 5th and pulled up 2 out in race won by Somersby (10-12) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov, 17 ran.
King Fontaine (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, every chance 2 out, one pace last, 3rd of 16, 6l behind Bensalem (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
More The Merrier (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders early, in rear from 7th, 10th of 16, 30l behind Midnight Sail (11-0) at Ascot 2m 6f nh mdn hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Mr Mackay 66-1 (11-0) Raced wide, held up in mid-division, headway into 4th and under pressure after 2 out, plugged on one pace, 4th of 12, 22l behind Chariot Charger (10-11) at Folkestone 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec.
Normally (11-7) won at Limavady 3m ire ptp sft in Oct beating Hari Abou (11-7) by a distance, 11 ran.
Radmores Revenge 25-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, kept on same pace from next, 5th of 11, 8l behind Charity Lane (11-5) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
