behind, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, driven to challenge 2 out, weakening when mistake last
prominent, ridden 5th, weakened 3 out
in touch, lost place after 7th, behind when pulled up 3 out
mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, led approaching 2 out, hard ridden, all out
led, headed after 3 out, weakened quickly
chased leaders, weakened after 7th
in touch, hard driven 5th, weakened next, behind when pulled up 4 out
mid-division, under pressure 5th, weakened next, behind when pulled up 8th
in rear, headway 4 out, every chance 2 out, kept on well closing stages
tracked leaders, weakened before 4 out
Midnight Belle won over a shorter trip at Ludlow last week. A penalty doesn't look a problem as she's dropping down a grade but today's distance could be and WILD GROUND is preferred. Kevin Bishop's veteran has been competing over fences and landed a double over 3m3f at Fontwell in December. She can race off a 12lb lower mark back over timber and looks the one to beat. The remainder are hard to fancy as Mangonel finished runner-up in a seller at Fakenham last time but will find this tougher and Knight Blaze was beaten a long way when second at Exeter on her latest start back in 2011.
Midnight Belle 17-2 (10-6) Held up in last pair, steady headway 8th, led 3 out, joined next, pressed last, stayed on well flat, won at Ludlow 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (0-105) (4) sft in Jan beating Ussee (11-11) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Mangonel 10-1 (11-12) Led, headed approaching 6th, tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, kept on to go moderate 2nd at last, 2nd of 11, 7l behind Me Fein (10-1) at Fakenham 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
Jordan 13-2 (11-5) In touch, ridden along 9th, weakened next, pulled up 4 out, in a race won by John's Gem (11-2) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
Tarabela 25-1 (11-6) In touch, behind from 6th, soon lost touch, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Jackers (11-2) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov '11, 11 ran.
Wild Ground (IRE) 9-2 (10-1) Led until 3rd, chased leader, hit 6th, no impression when lost 2nd and weakened 4 out, tailed off, 4th of 6, 45l behind Ballygarvey (11-2) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Jan.
Mysula 33-1 (11-1) Chased leaders on outer, weakened before 3 out, 18th of 23, well behind Overdante (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Knight Blaze 5-2 (11-0) Chsd ldrs 5; one pce 3 out, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Zola's Jewel (11-7) at Trecoed 3m ptp gd in Jun.
Some Secret 13-2 (10-9) Chased leading pair, jumped big 1st, went 2nd 5th until next, ridden and outpaced in 4th before 2 out, left poor 3rd after last, tailed off, 3rd of 5, 42l behind Storm Alert (11-3) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan.
Starlet Mandy (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, pushed along and weakened before 2 out, 5th of 10, 26l behind Boomtown (9-10) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Nov.
Gouranga 250-1 (10-12) Soon tailed off, pulled up after 8th, in a race won by Valmari (10-11) at Ludlow 2m 4f mrs nov chs (5yo+) (4) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Southway Queen 33-1 (10-5) Held up in touch, ridden 3 out, soon outpaced, 4th of 5, 39l behind Ballinahow Star (11-3) at Wincanton 2m mrs nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
