in touch, ridden and struggling from 13th, pulled up 15th
close up, ridden to chase winner 2 out, hung badly left soon after last, straightened up, ran on, not quite reach winner
in rear when blundered 1st, pushed along 8th, struggling from 13th, pulled up 15th
in rear, ridden 9th, struggling 11th, tailed off when pulled up 15th
tracked winner until ridden 12th, tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, in rear next, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace
close up, tracked winner 12th until ridden before 2 out, kept one pace, hit last
made all, clear 4th, not fluent 10th, reduced lead 13th, ridden 2 out, all out
The winning run of MIDNIGHT BLISS came to an end at Southwell last time but she was beaten less than length off today’s mark and Caroline Fryer’s charge is taken to get her head back in front here and reverse latest running with the winner Midnight Mustang. The latter carries a 7lb penalty for that success but Spirit Of Hale should have come on for a recent outing at Bangor and is preferred to Baron Du Plessis. Rogue Dancer and Lady London have been thereabouts recently though both are still looking for their first win over fences.
Midnight Bliss 4-1 (11-11) Led until after 4th, led again approaching and mistake 3 out, strongly challenged when not fluent last, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Midnight Mustang (10-4) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Baron Du Plessis (FR) 5-2fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, driven 4 out, weakened after next, 4th of 7, 13 3/4l behind Polo The Mumm (10-1) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Spirit Of Hale (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Close up, jumped left 2nd, outpaced 9th, rallied 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 9, 26l behind Wandrin Star (11-12) at Bangor 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Lady London (IRE) 5-1 (10-10) Held up, headway 12th, tracked leaders 14th, chased leader 4 out, every chance and chased winner 3 out, ridden and stayed on one pace flat, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Thomas Todd (11-8) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Midnight Mustang 11-2 (10-4) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge after last, stayed on strongly to lead close home, won at Southwell 3m 2f hcp (5) gs in Dec beating Midnight Bliss (11-11) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Rogue Dancer (FR) 13-2 (10-2) Led, went right 9th, ridden between last 2, went right again and pecked last, soon headed, weakened and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Cheque En Blanc (11-11) at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
That's The Deal (IRE) 20-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, beaten 4 out, last of 6, 23 1/4l behind Midnight Mustang (10-4) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Is Love Alive 12-1 (10-4) With leader, ridden and weakened before 4 out, soon pulled up, at Taunton 2m 6f hcp (5) gd in Nov.