in touch, headway 4f out, driven to challenge over 2f out, kept on same pace
held up, headway over 5f out, weakened over 2f out
mid-division, ridden and weakened over 5f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
held up, never dangerous
held up, headway 5f out, weakened over 3f out
Reel Missile can successfully defy a penalty in the bumper, with Finely Tuned his only serious rival. Reel Missile caused a big shock on his Doncaster debut by obliging at odds of 100-1, but proved that was no fluke when turning in a solid effort in defeat at Huntingdon three weeks later. The horse that beat him that day, Racing Demon, was described later as 'a machine' by Henrietta Knight who reckons that he is one of the best that she has had since Best Mate. If that is the case, then Reel Missile faced an impossible task in trying to give him weight. It is extremely doubtful that there is a challenger of that calibre here, and Reel Missile should overcome an absence to score. Finely Tuned took on good company at Newbury before appreciating the drop in grade when fifth at Kempton. He will definitely win when put over hurdles but does not make as much appeal here as Charlie Pogson's charge. Of the rest, Daffodil Thyne can improve for her Huntingdon debut but needs to settle, and so Reel Missile only has one to beat and should do that in style.