held up off the pace in 5th, closer went 3rd before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace
chased leading trio, pushed along after 6th, mistake and weakened 4 out, pulled up before next
raced keenly, chased winner throughout, mistake 3rd, ridden before 2 out, well held and no impression between last 2
jumped moderately in rear, lost touch before 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 5 out
made all, hit 2nd, clear between last 2, eased towards finish, unchallenged
chased leading pair until pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
Dame du Soir will be all the better for her first run over hurdles and debut for David Bridgwater at Exeter at the start of the year but SKIN DEEP sets a decent standard. She had no problem recouping losses at Worcester after a slipping saddle forced her to be pulled up when odds-on here in August. Shazzamataz has been running in handicaps since landing a Kempton maiden in May but is looking a little exposed. Pique Rock had modest form in bumpers and hurdle races before embarking on a point-to-point career and, like Sid Hoodie, may do better over fences.
Shazzamataz (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Held up, headway after 6th, not fluent 3 out or when 4th and beaten 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 7, 24 3/4l behind The Jam Man (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Skin Deep (IRE) 4-5fav (11-0) Tracked front pair, went 2nd 3 out, challenged when not fluent next, led narrowly approaching last, soon headed and ridden, stayed on to regain lead near finish, won at Worcester 2m 4f mdn (5) gd in Aug beating Sheila Tanist (11-0) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Dame du Soir (FR) 7-4fav (10-12) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, no extra after last, 5th of 10, 7 1/4l behind Love Lane (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f (4) sft in Feb.
Just Heather (IRE) 200-1 (10-4) Always behind, struggling from halfway, tailed off, pulled up, at Market Rasen 2m 5f (4) gd in Jul.
Pique Rock 9-2 (11-3) Chased leaders, struggling 3 out, went well beaten 4th last, 4th of 13, 26 1/4l behind Caryto Des Brosses (11-10) at Stratford 2m 7f (5) gd in Jun.
Sid Hoodie (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) In touch main group, outpaced before 3 out, soon ridden, never on terms, weakened before last, 6th of 11, 18 3/4l behind Sheila Tanist (11-0) at Worcester 2m mdn (5) gd in Sep.
