well off the pace in last pair, never on terms, tailed off
soon well off the pace in 5th, mistake and struggling 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
led, not fluent 3rd, went clear 6th, pecked 4 out, reduced lead next, narrowly headed 2 out, rallied gamely to lead again last, driven out
chased winner until 8th, chased leading pair, well held when weakened into 4th before 3 out
bit keen, held up in 4th, mistake and outpaced 8th, rallied into modest 3rd before 3 out
chased leading pair, went 2nd and closed 3 out, led next, mistake and headed last, stayed on under pressure run-in, always just held
always behind, never a factor, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
Withdrawn
It will be interesting to see how Northumberland Plate winner Who Dares Wins adapts to chasing. He is a classy stayer on the Flat and has also won three times over hurdles. But THOMAS DARBY made a perfectly respectable start to his chasing career when runner-up to Maire Banrigh at Warwick. He made a couple of mistakes, which didn’t aid his cause, but will know more today. The very lightly-raced Master Tommytucker was still travelling strongly when falling at Chepstow last season on his chasing bow. Fitness shouldn’t be an issue and The Big Bite was very highly tried over hurdles last season after winning at Chepstow and Haydock.
Bridle Loanan (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Close up, pushed along and outpaced 2 out, last of 6, 25 3/4l behind Falco Blitz (11-0) at Fakenham 2m mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Harefield (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Chased leader after 2nd until pushed along before 2 out, weakened between last 2, 5th of 11, 10l behind Fleur Irlandaise (11-1) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Master Tommytucker 4-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, raced in 2nd or 3rd, just under 2 lengths behind leader when fell 4 out, at Chepstow 2m 3f lst (1) gd in Oct.
The Big Bite (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Led, hit 3 out and headed, soon pushed along, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 8th of 9, 17l behind Reserve Tank (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr.
Thomas Darby (IRE) 8-11fav (11-1) Chased winner, not fluent 4 out, shaken up when not fluent 2 out, stayed on flat but unbale to challenge, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Maire Banrigh (10-13) at Warwick 2m (3) gs in Nov.
Who Dares Wins (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Mid-division, driven 4f out, ridden and kept on under pressure final 2f, never reached leaders, 7th of 30, 12 1/4l behind Stratum (9-7) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp stks (2) sft in Oct.
Phoenician Star (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Held up and behind, some progress 11th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Windsor Avenue (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 3f (4) sft in Oct.
Sunday At Augusta (IRE) 9-1 (10-6) Always towards rear, 5th of 6, 31 3/4l behind Song Of The Sky (11-10) at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
