tracked leaders, chased winner 3 out, ridden and no impression from 2 out, stayed on
held up in rear, headway when stumbled 7th, ridden next, weakening when hit last
held up towards rear, headway 7th, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders on outside, not fluent, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
made all, hit 5th, in command from 2 out, ran on well
pressed winner until not fluent 3 out, soon beaten
tracked leaders, jumped path just before 4th, lost place when not fluent next, ran wide bend before 6th, weakened 7th, tailed off
Nonrunner
The Mark Tompkins-trained Astrolibra ran too badly to be true in Market Rasen's valuable Summer Hurdle last month and cannot be discounted back in a novices' hurdle against her own sex, even under a penalty. Sarah Humphrey's Call At Midnight also has a penalty to carry following her success in a maiden hurdle over course and distance last month and she has to be respected but this looks tougher. David Pipe's Daliarose returns to hurdles having disappointed over fences at Market Rasen last time and the four-year-old has to be considered but more solid claims are held by BLACK ANNIE, who gets the verdict. Paul Webber's mare showed a decent and progressive level of form in bumpers before making a pleasing first start over timber when a close second to Frosted Grape at Worcester last month; she can go one better today.
Astrolibra 50-1 (10-1) Jumped left and mistakes, always behind, tailed off, 14th of 17, well behind Australia Day (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gd in Jul.
Call At Midnight 4-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear and keen, headway from 3 out, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, won at Stratford 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jul beating Forcryingoutloud (10-11) by 5l, 8 ran.
Daliarose (FR) 7-1 (10-3) Took keen hold, jumped left, with leader, led when mistake 7th, headed after 4 out, weakened next, 9th of 10, 43l behind Viable (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Jul.
Altos Reales 66-1 (10-5) In touch, chased leaders going to 2 out, weakened next, 6th of 14, 16l behind Players Please (11-12) at Hereford 2m 1f 4yo nov stks (4) gf in Jun.
Black Annie (IRE) 6-4fav (10-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway after 5th, chased winner and not fluent 3 out, hung left after next, hung left and weakened flat, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Frosted Grape (10-10) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Jul.
Midnight Fun 25-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, headway 5th, stayed on same pace and no impression next, 4th of 8, 26l behind Totoman (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jul.
Reg's Ruby 66-1 (10-7) Took keen hold with leader, led after 5f, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 11, 13l behind Hallmark Harry (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gd in Jul.
Himitas (FR) 12-1 (10-10) Mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out, 4th of 7, well behind Detroit Red (10-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) gf in Jul.