mid-division, hit 3rd, headway next, every chance but not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
pulled hard, prominent to 7th, tailed off and pulled up before last
held up in rear, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, weakened before next
held up, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
in touch to 7th, soon behind
held up, headway 7th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden 3 out, weakened quickly
keen, tracked leaders, hit 3rd, weakened 7th
led to 3rd, weakened 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
behind, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, hit last, no extra flat
tracked leaders, led 3rd, driven out
Sweet Oona represents a yard in good form and is capable of giving weight away to the likes of Nice Baby and Seveneightsix, who look the pick of the opposition that have been seen out recently, while It will also be interesting to see how much support there is for Esplendidos, who looked a progressive type last in three starts season. The booking of Timmy Murphy catches the eye for Esplendidos and she is sure have an educational round whatever happens. She has scope to improvement and is worth keeping on the right side when she has proved her fitness. Seveneightsix has been a little hit or miss this term and is not one to trust implicitly. However, she has shown flashes of ability and, as she hails from a shrewd yard, she is one to seriously consider for each-way players if there is money in the betting ring to back up her claims. Martin Pipe has elected Gerry Supple to keep the ride on Nice Baby and the partnership should not be underestimated. As we saw at the weekend, Pipe's team can never be overlooked and, even though she has improvement to find, it will not be surprising to see this daughter of Baby Turk play a leading role here. However, recent form suggests that Sweet Oona has got what it takes to win a race like this and this can finally be her day. The six-year-old has made the frame in each of her last seven starts and, with Paul O'Neill's 7lb claim tipping the scales in her favour, we expect another big run from Sweet Oona this afternoon.
Sweet Oona (FR) 3-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 4th, ridden to chase leader from 2 out, kept on but no chance, 2nd of 11, 10l behind Refinement (11-4) at Towcester 2m mrs nov hdl (D) gd in Oct.
Pips Assertive Way 20-1 (10-7) Keen and tracked leaders, one pace from 3 out, 4th of 10, 9l behind Emmasflora (10-5) at Towcester 2m mrs nov hdl (D) gd in Oct.
Esplendidos (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 3rd of 14, 21l behind Inch Pride (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Jan.
Ishka Baha (IRE) 50-1 (9-8) In touch until 4 out, soon weakened, 10th of 15, well behind Penneyrose Bay (10-4) at Newbury 2m 5f mrs lst nov hdl (A) gs in Apr.
The Wife's Sister 13-2 (10-4) Mid-division, lost place from 7th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Marlborough Sound (11-2) at Cartmel 2m 6f mdn hdl (E) gd in May, 16 ran.
Nice Baby (FR) 11-1 (11-9) Always towards rear, 8th of 9, well behind Glacial Delight (11-12) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) frm in Oct.
Hazel Bank Lass (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Never a factor, tailed off, 10th of 14, well behind Seminole Chief (10-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 6f mdn hdl sft in Jan '04.
Hilarious (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 13, 10l behind Novacella (10-10) at Worcester 2m mrs nov hdl (E) gd.
Sovereign Gale (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) won at Chaddesley Corb' 3m ptp gd in Apr '04 beating Campden Kitty (11-9) by 7l, 6 ran.
Rude Health 66-1 (10-5) Tracked leader, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 37l behind Boychuk (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gs in Oct.
Seveneightsix (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway 3rd, ridden 3 out, blundered 2 out, kept on flat, 3rd of 15, 7l behind Jug Of Punch (10-13) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-90 (F) gd.
