held up in touch, weakened after 5th
with leader, weakened after 5th
chased leaders, chased winner approaching 2 out, every chance last, not quicken towards finish
led, headed approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next
always towards rear, pulled up before 2 out
always behind
held up, headway to track leaders 4th, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed approaching next, weakening when mistake last
tracked leaders, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 5th, led approaching 2 out, kept on gamely
Before Dark gets the shout here ahead of Ice Melted and Nevada Red. Before Dark showed plenty of novice promise last season and is an interesting chasing debutant, so much so that we make him the choice. It is hard to be strong on the claims of the others, although a repeat of his fair Towcester second off a mark of 97 two runs ago would put Ice Melted in the picture, even though he nw races off 106. Nevada Red has yet to emulate his hurdling efforts over fences, although his stable has a decent record at this venue, while Corlande is very well handicapped based on his hurdling form of earlier in the year but his chasing efforts have also disappointed thus far. I guess you could build some sort of case Predestine and Chopneyev but, overall, we are happy to side with Before Dark.
That's Racing 5-1 (10-10) Led, ridden 2 out, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 12, 3l behind Baffling Secret (10-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft.
Amadeus (AUS) 5-1fav (10-11) Mistake and stumbled 3rd, always behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Veverka (11-1) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Sept, 14 ran.
Norton Sapphire 9-4fav (9-10) Took keen hold tracking leaders, pressed winner from 8th, outpaced after 2 out, kept on, always held from last, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Pearly Star (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 6f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Forzacurity 50-1 (9-9) Prominent until weakened after 6th, 11th of 16, 36l behind Tora Petcha (11-2) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
Glenkill (IRE) 66-1 (9-8) Led to 7th, weakening when hampered and unseated rider 3 out in race won by Hello It's Me (10-10) at Ludlow 2m 5f amt hcp hdl (4) gs, 16 ran.
Harpurs Girl 16-1 (9-11) Held up mid-division, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 14, 22l behind Grey Samurai (10-11) at Southwell 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs.
Northern Quest (IRE) 150-1 (10-9) In touch, outpaced when hit 7th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Reel Charmer (10-10) at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov, 18 ran.
Go Pete (NZ) 5-2fav (10-0) Held up in last pair, ridden and struggling 11th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Alderbrook Girl (10-4) at Plumpton 3m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
Eastern Dagger 14-1 (9-7) Held up and pulled hard, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 26l behind Haditovski (11-6) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Nov.
Too Posh To Share 20-1 (9-9) Behind, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, chased winner approaching last, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Aberdeen Park (10-5) at Towcester 2m sll hdl (5) gs in Nov.
