chased leaders, challenged 2 out, led last, driven out
led, hung right on bend and headed before 2 out, blundered 2 out, weakened soon after
chased leaders, 2nd and every chance 2 out, 3rd and one pace when went left last
chased leader, led before 2 out, mistake and headed last, stayed on under pressure run-in
mistake 1st, chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 3 out
not keen lining up and reluctant to race, detached in rear, closer and latched on to back of field approaching 4th, headway and in touch 3 out, soon pushed along, weakened approaching next
held up last in main group, headway and in touch 3 out, pushed along and weakened before next
This looks tricky but Barman could well bounce back from a first defeat in four at Stratford. Miss Estela came good at Exeter in April and scored again at Market Rasen in May – she has scope for further improvement. Crickel Wood could figure if fully wound-up as his stable is going well but fellow course winner Satanic Beat is hard to catch right nowadays and the headgear is left off here. NICE THOUGHTS showed ability in novice races in the spring and, on reflection, probably needed the run when odds-on at Worcester last month. David Pipe's Flat winner could be very well treated on his handicap debut off a mark of 115. Northern Meeting has had a pipe-opener on the all-weather since winning at Worcester so shouldn't be ignored.
Barman (FR) 2-1 (11-2) Took keen hold in touch, headway 2 out, challenging when short of room approaching last, kept on same pace closing stages, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Rossetti (11-12) at Stratford 2m hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Miss Estela (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 5th, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden and headed, stayed challenging, not fluent last, driven flat, led again towards finish, very game, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in May beating Midtech Valentine (11-1) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Crickel Wood (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Mid-division, headway when mistake 5th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, no chance with winner, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 12, 17l behind Drumlee Sunset (11-0) at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Mar.
Satanic Beat (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, outpaced after 3 out, soon ridden, left modest 3rd at last, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 7, 16 1/2l behind Crimson Ark (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Nice Thoughts (IRE) 4-6fav (10-13) Held up, headway after 2nd, close 3rd 3 out, shaken up when blundered 2 out, beaten flat, one pace, 4th of 9, 4l behind Barwick (11-0) at Worcester 2m mdn (5) gd in Aug.
Northern Meeting (IRE) 20-1 (9-6) Slowly away, held up, mid-division, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, headed towards finish when weakening, 4th of 9, 1 1/4l behind Fern Owl (9-5) at Kempton 2m hcp (5) pol in Sep.
Hawaiian Freeze 8-1 (10-1) 5th of 10, 10 1/2l behind Chapeau Bleu (10-7) at Les Landes 1m hcp in Jul.
