Racecards
16:35 Nottingham
Nottingham Racecourse Conference Centre Handicap (Class F)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 1m 1f 213y
- Going: Good to Firm

- Form 2060-05
- Age 3
- Weight 9-6
- Trainer R Hodges
- Jockey J F McDonald
in touch, ridden to challenge over 3f out, led over 2f out, headed briefly over 1f out, rallied and soon led again, held on gamely

Vanilla Moon
17- Form 006-004
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Trainer J R Jenkins
- Jockey Paul Eddery
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out

- Form 0052-06
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Trainer P & O Cole
- Jockey S Hitchcott
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge over 3f out, every chance over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong

Bridge Pal
17- Form 5-00242
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, not reach leaders


Blue Symphony
220- Form 00000-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Trainer E A L Dunlop
- Jockey Willie Supple
held up mid-division, pulled hard early, headway over 3f out, ridden and led briefly over 1f out, soon headed, no extra close home

Maritime Blues
214- Form 000-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
held up, ridden and headway over 3f out, weakened over 2f out

Northern Friend
214- Form 400240-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer J A Glover
- Jockey G Carter
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out

- Form 000-0
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer J L Dunlop
- Jockey J Fortune
held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression

Ethos
18- Form 2004-00
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer B R Millman
- Jockey G Baker
steadied start, always towards rear

- Form 00-0
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Trainer H Morrison
- Jockey Richard Hughes
led 2f, prominent until ridden and weakened over 2f out

- Form 000-0
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Trainer D Ffrench Davis
- Jockey M Tebbutt
led after 2f, ridden and headed over 2f out, one pace final furlong
In depth
Verdict
An ordinary event filled with mainly disappointing types but Bridge Pal showed plenty of promise last time and gets the vote ahead of Vanilla Moon, Squire Michael and Tender Falcon. The selection had shown little over shorter distances but appreciated the step up to this trip when last month when a close second in a competitive handicap at Southwell. The daughter of First Trump looked unlucky not to prevail as she was twice stopped in her run and, with further improvement to come, she can gain compensation. The William Jarvis-trained filly had Vanilla Moon behind in fourth at Southwell and should have little difficulty in confirming the placings on these terms considering she met trouble in running. Squire Michael ran some encouraging races on the all-weather this winter but has failed to match those efforts back on turf and looks a shade high in the weights while Tender Falcon has stamina doubts to answer after failing to last home over this trip last time.