tracked leaders, weakened 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
held up, headway to chase leaders 4 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, tracked leader 4 out, led approaching 2 out, challenged last, kept on
tracked leader, mistake 3 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, ridden 7th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
led, ridden when headed approaching 2 out, rallied and every chance when blundered last, no extra
in touch, hit 7th, soon weakened
held up, some headway 4 out, ridden after 3 out, weakening when mistake next, pulled up before last
held up, ridden and weakened after 7th, pulled up before 2 out
RUBY CROWN looks well worth a try at this longer trip and receives the nod ahead of Burgess Hill and Saphire Night. Cases can be made for most of these in an interesting heat with Thursday's Knight and Sashenka amongst those with more obvious claims but Daarth may benefit from a significant step up in trip for his handicap bow whilst Worbarrow Bay has shown ability and is one to be wary of. Burgess Hill has shown his hand more than that pair but has only had a handful of starts for Tim Vaughan and may be capable of better yet although his handler has yet to hit the target on his forays to this track. Saphire Night showed promise last season and is entitled to come on for her first run in almost a year. Tom George's string is in rude health at present and this sort of test is tailor made for her. There's less guesswork involved in siding with Kim Bailey's runner who has been performing consistently well over shorter trips. That has allowed the handicapper to have his say but she looks capable of further improvement and the way that she has been running of late leads us to believe that Ruby Crown can find it over this longer trip.
Thursday's Knight (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Always in rear, ridden and struggling 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 10, 46l behind Bally Conn (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Burgess Hill (IRE) 3-1fav (11-5) Mid-division, smooth headway approaching 3 out, ridden and hit 3 out, held when left 2nd last, weakened flat, 3rd of 17, 9l behind Deep Pockets (11-7) at Exeter 2m 5f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Saphire Night 11-1 (9-10) In touch, lost place 6th, soon outpaced, plugged on, 5th of 13, 13l behind Dansimar (11-9) at Hereford 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Free To Air 14-1 (11-10) Always in rear, tailed off 4 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Oscar Owen (10-6) at Newbury 3m cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gd in Feb, 16 ran.
Worbarrow Bay (IRE) 66-1 (10-13) Held up, never dangerous, 8th of 13, well behind Jaunty Journey (11-3) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Jan.
Sashenka 9-2 (10-10) Led, hit 5th, headed approaching 3 out, soon ridden, regained lead last, stayed on gamely, won at Ludlow 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Feb beating Painter Man (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
Anchor Bridge (IRE) 5-1jt-fav (11-5) Chased leaders until weakened 8th, soon tailed off, 9th of 12, 37l behind Marsh Court (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Ruby Crown 17-2 (11-1) In touch, lost place 4th, stayed on from 3 out, took 3rd close home, 3rd of 17, 10l behind Markila (11-11) at Ludlow 2m mrs hcp hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Inn For The Dancer 13-2 (10-10) In rear, mistakes 4th and 7th, behind from 10th, 6th of 9, 47l behind Classic Role (11-12) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Daarth 150-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, hampered 4 out, kept on from 2 out, but never in contention, 4th of 17, 26l behind Higgy's Boy (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
