held up in touch on outside, ridden and outpaced at bypassed 3 out, soon weakened
led, headed at 3rd and last, soon driven and outpaced, lost place at bypassed 3 out, soon beaten
tracked leader, led at 3rd and last, soon well in command, unextended (3 flights in home straight ommitted)
tracked leader, ridden at bypassed 2 out, stayed on same pace, no impression
held up in touch, went 2nd at bypassed 3 out, soon ridden and kept on same pace, no chance with winner
held up in rear, ridden and outpaced at bypassed 2 out, never on terms
Nonrunner
A good race in prospect and HALLING GAL is preferred to Madame Mado and Ocean Transit. Formerly trained by Willie Muir; Halling Gal made a bold bid for honours at Cheltenham before tiring close home. On this easier track, there is a better chance of her staying two miles. The combination of McCoy and Henderson will assume a prominent market position for Madame Mado. She might have won at Bangor recently were it not for a few errors at vital stages. Ocean Transit was in rude health at the back end of last term though failed to overhaul the progressive Aather last time out. Dabaratsa picked up a couple of prizes for Rebecca Curtis last year during the summer so it is to be hoped that the return to better weather may bring about improved results. Garafena han't set the world alight since joining Richard Lee from Brendan Powell's team. That said, she acts on the surface and is in off a featherweight. Stir On The Sea has yet to recapture some of her form that she showed under Dessie Hughes' tenure with the training cap. Halling Gal is most open to progression in a good race for the time of the year.
Halling Gal 11-2 (10-11) Led until 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 8, 30l behind Puzzlemaster (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (2) gd.
Dabaratsa (FR) 9-4 (11-5) In touch, ridden to chase winner 2 out, rallied flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Santera (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f mrs clm hdl (4yo+) (4) gs in Mar.
Madame Mado (FR) 8-11fav (10-12) Always prominent, mistake 3rd, challenged 4th, led next, mistake 2 out, headed last, one pace, 2nd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Miss Nightshade (10-9) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Stir On The Sea (IRE) 9-2fav (10-12) Pressed leader, challenged 7th, dived at 3 out, soon lost 2nd, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 13, 33l behind Parlesotho (11-5) at Stratford 2m 3f mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Boogie Dancer 14-1 (11-5) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, 10th of 17, 19l behind Exulto (11-5) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf.
Garafena 50-1 (10-11) Held up and keen, headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders next, no impression, 4th of 15, 21l behind Asturienne (10-10) at Towcester 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Ocean Transit (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, smooth headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders before next, went 2nd before last, ridden and one pace flat, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Aather (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.
