held up, headway and travelling well when hampered on bend after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, found little
always in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 6th, ridden and every chance after 3 out, weakened next, hit last
prominent, led 4th, ridden after 6th, headed approaching last, rallied flat, just failed
always in rear, tailed and pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders until outpaced approaching 3 out, beaten when hit rails approaching 2 out
led until 4th, pressed leader, ridden approaching 6th, stayed on same pace from 2 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, leading when hit last, all out, just held on
always in rear
chased leaders, hit 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
A trappy race for punters with a number of these out of form or returning from absences of varying degrees so at minimum stakes we take DIGGER GETS LUCKY to account for Spider Boy and Pertinent. Nick Gifford's charge hasn't been in particularly good form this term but a perusal through his earlier lines suggest that he might be better with genuinely decent ground and with doubts about plenty, we will chance our arm at the likely odds. Spider Boy is a course specialist though almost spoilt Tony McCoy's party when the champ rode his 2999th winner on Hello Moscow. That said, the going was verging upon unraceable at Plumpton so conditions are markedly different here. Pertinent was easy to back at Taunton when third to Carrickboy. That form took a huge boost at the weekend when the winner saw off much more experienced rivals with something in hand. Onyx Bruere made an inauspicious start to his career with Alan King in 2007 and has not seen the racecourse since. The market is watched with regard to him this afternoon. Poseidon's Secret won a Plumpton hurdle last year though has struggled badly ever since. A whole raft of aids have been employed today. Equilibria has won at the course previously and comes into the equation if the ground dries out. Mistress Eva has faced a number of ridiculously ambitious targets in the past so this drop in grade and the imposition of a light racing weight may work the oracle. Digger Gets Lucky is our nomination to minimum stakes.
Pertinent (FR) 8-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and 2nd 2 out, one pace flat, 3rd of 12, 12l behind Carrickboy (11-3) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) hvy.
Onyx Bruere (FR) 9-2 (11-4) In touch, ridden and close up when mistake 2 out, weakened, 9th of 12, well behind Money Order (10-12) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (3) sft in Feb '07.
Digger Gets Lucky (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Wychwoods Legend (11-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan, 19 ran.
Poseidon's Secret (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Behind, ridden 7th, pulled up before 2 out pulled up 2 out in race won by Vodka Brook (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Jan, 19 ran.
Equilibria (USA) 14-1 (11-5) Led, headed 2 out, mistake and weakened soon after, 8th of 11, well behind Ballinderry Park (11-11) at Folkestone 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Tenor De Balme (FR) 8-1 (10-9) In touch, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened after, 7th of 13, 31l behind Oldrik (11-5) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Jan.
Spider Boy 20-1 (9-7) Led until headed 9th, soon lost 2nd, stayed in 3rd, rallied well flat, closed on winner near finish, 2nd of 12, nk behind Hello Moscow (11-3) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy.
Swainson (USA) 33-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden after 3 out, soon one pace, 7th of 11, 17l behind Our Bomber Harris (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Quiditch D'ouxy (FR) 66-1 (10-12) Held up rear, driven 6th, bumped 8th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Charity Lane (10-7) at Lingfield 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov, 9 ran.
Mistress Eva 100-1 (10-2) Held up, mistake 6th, soon ridden and held, 6th of 9, 36l behind Zaynar (11-4) at Ascot 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gs in Jan.
