raced keenly, tracked winner to 7th, outpaced by leading pair approaching 3 out, soon no impression, lost moderate 3rd next
in touch on outside, went 2nd at 7th, outpaced when hit 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, plugged on from next, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, outpaced 9th, soon struggling, kept on to go moderate 3rd 2 out, never on terms
jumped right, behind and soon pushed along, reminders 6th, lost touch and pulled up after 8th
held up in touch on outside, mistake 4th and 6th, mistake and reminder 8th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off
made all, drew well clear 3 out, eased flat, unextended
slowly away, always behind, tailed off 3 out
chased leaders on inside, lost place 5th, soon behind, lost touch and pulled up before 8th
tracked leaders, lost place 9th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
Fontwell bumper winner MIDNIGHT MACARENA had an off day at Warwick last month and is better judged on her earlier effort at Huntingdon. Still in contention jumping the last on that occasion, she was outpaced in the run to the line, but a repeat effort should be good enough to take this contest. Rith Bob also disappointed last time but had been placed in five previous starts over timber and she's not out of this while Here's The key produced her best effort so far when just failing at Folkestone last time. Blazing Empress and Brambley have both shown some ability in bumpers and are worth noting on their hurdling debuts.
Blazing Empress 100-1 (10-5) Pulled hard, led 2nd, hit 4th, headed after 5th, chased winner until lost place after 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 4th of 12, 38l behind Alverstone (11-5) at Warwick 2m 5f mares NH nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Cloudy Wager 33-1 (10-13) Took keen hold, held up in rear, lost touch 6th, tailed off, 7th of 10, 48l behind Captain Kirkton (11-6) at Lingfield 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
Here's The Key (FR) 5-1 (11-5) Prominent, ridden and lost place approaching 4th, soon behind, responded to pressure and went modest 4th turning for home, closed approaching last, stayed on to join winner final 100 yards, held close home, 2nd of 8, nk behind Time To Think (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy.
Luna Lightning 100-1 (10-7) With leader, led over 10f out, headed 5f out, weakened over 3f out, 8th of 9, 49l behind Pepe Simo (11-0) at Kempton 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Midnight Macarena 9-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 12, well behind Alverstone (11-5) at Warwick 2m 5f mares NH nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Rith Bob (IRE) 11-4fav (10-10) Prominent, lost place approaching 5th, weakening when mistake 7th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Annimation (10-5) at Exeter 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Nov, 15 ran.
Saltara 80-1 (11-1) Prominent until weakened approaching 5th, pulled up before 6th, in a race won by Mrs Fawlty (11-1) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb, 14 ran.
Sonus Weld (IRE) 33-1 (10-3) Held up in touch when hampered and fell 3rd, in a race won by Kaituna (10-10) at Plumpton 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Nov, 8 ran.
Brambley 66-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden 5f out, soon lost place, not much room and weakened over 3f out, 11th of 13, 21l behind Who's Afraid (10-12) at Newbury 1m 4f 3yo flls NH flat (5) gd in Dec.
