Racecards
20:00 Nottingham
bonus.co.uk Casino Bonus Handicap (Class 5)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f 50y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £4,000 added
- Winner: £2,588
- 2nd: £770
- 3rd: £385
- 4th: £192
- Form 092-5
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 75
held up in rear but in touch, headway over 2f out, chased leader over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
Kolonel Kirkup
213- Form 2126-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 74
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
- Form 0640-12
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey S De Sousa
tracked leader, led over 2f out, forged clear inside final furlong, stayed on strongly
- Form 605-212
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 70
led, driven and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 321-182
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 68
in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
Thorpe (IRE)
31- Form 08-4
- Age 3
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer R M Beckett
- Jockey R Kingscote
Nonrunner
Song Light
20- Form 952-8
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer D R C Elsworth
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
Nonrunner
Verdict
Michael Dods has already staged a couple of successful raids on Nottingham's early season prizes, and though Kolonel Kirkup ran too badly to be true on his final race of 2012, it would be no surprise to see him bounce back to form. Mizyen has been a model of consistency and the front-runner will go close but LOVE MARMALADE receives our vote. Mark Johnston's colt won over course and distance last month and in fairness to him, he didn't do a great deal wrong when attempting a follow-up at Kempton next time out. Mixed Message won on her debut for John Mackie at Southwell, and though she is a winner on soft, she has placed twice on a faster surface in the past. A step up in trip looked as if it could be the making of Short Squeeze. The market was lukewarm about his prospects at Doncaster on reappearance and he ran accordingly.
Formwatch
Short Squeeze (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Dwelt held up, hung badly right and headway 5f out, chased leaders, very wide into straight over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 7, 9l behind Disclaimer (9-7) at Doncaster 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Apr.
Kolonel Kirkup 4-1 (9-4) With leaders, weakened 2f out, last of 6, 18l behind George Rooke (9-7) at Catterick 7f 2yo hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Oct.
Love Marmalade (IRE) 3-1fav (9-0) Led early, tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Lamusawama (9-0) at Kempton 1m 2f 3yo stks 0-70 (5) pol.
Mizyen (IRE) 2-1fav (9-6) Led, headed over 1f out, kept on and no impression with winner, 2nd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Excellent Puck (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Apr.
Mixed Message (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, not much room and pulled out wide over 2f out, headway over 1f out, edged left and ran on inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Corn Snow (9-7) at Redcar 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Smileswithhiseyes (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Took keen hold, held up tracing leading trio until dropped to last halfway, outpaced and raced awkwardly over 2f out, last of 5, 16l behind Queensberry Rules (9-2) at Sandown 1m con stks (3) gd in Apr.
Thorpe (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, headway to 3rd 7f out, went 2nd halfway, pushed along and lost 2nd 2f out, one pace and held in 4th when bumped approaching final furlong, last of 4, 3 1/2l behind Libertarian (9-5) at Pontefract 1m 2f 3yo mdn (4) gs in Apr.
Song Light 10-1 (9-5) Towards rear, never a factor, 8th of 11, 11l behind Centurius (9-5) at Nottingham 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gd in Apr.