made all, clear from before 3 out, ridden run-in, kept on well
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden before and not fluent 3 out, soon weakened
tracked winner, not fluent 6 out, lost place after 4 out, soon outpaced, went 3rd from 2 out, no impression
in rear and in touch, headway after 4 out to track winner, ridden run-in, kept on and always held by winner
Raised 12lb for finishing runner-up in Listed company in November, WEATHER BABE ran her best race since then when second at Market Rasen. A repeat should be good enough in this company and David Pipe's mare gets the nod. It would be no surprise to see further progress forthcoming from handicap debutant Think Out Loud but Gracchus looks a bigger threat after scoring with a bit in hand at Ffos Las. Dark And Dangerous has tumbled down the weights since he last won over hurdles but arrives badly out of form.
Weather Babe 4-1 (11-4) Chased leading pair, went 2nd at 3rd, led 6th, ridden and narrowly headed 2 out, chased winner under pressure, held when stumbled badly last, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Scotsbrook Cloud (11-11) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Think Out Loud 15-2 (10-12) With winner, ridden and weakened before last, 4th of 10, 8l behind Run On Sterling (10-12) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (4) gs in May.
Dark And Dangerous (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Led, mistake 3rd, headed 4 out, weakened next, 7th of 11, 22l behind Hi Tide (11-4) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gf in Jun.
Gracchus (USA) 9-2 (10-10) Tracked leaders, led 2 out, clear before last, kept on well, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Jun beating Speed Steed (11-4) by 4l, 8 ran.