in touch, ridden approaching 7th, weakened quickly, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up and keen, headway and not clear run approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
tracked leader, led 2nd, ridden approaching 2 out, headed last, one pace
refused to race
led to 2nd, chased leader to after 6th, weakened after next
mid-division, headway approaching 7th, ridden to chase leader and hung left approaching 3 out, led last, driven out
always towards rear
in touch, headway approaching 7th, ridden when not fluent 2 out, soon weakened
always behind
chased leaders, weakening when not much room approaching 3 out
Kiwi Babe gets the call here ahead of a whole host of possibles including Alvaro, Minibule and Turaath. The booking of Tony McCoy for Kiwi Babe catches the eye but the fact that she is put into this company so soon is a bit of a worry. She needed all of Ruby Walsh's urgings to win at Folkestone in November and went out like a light in first-time blinkers at Chepstow next time. She has not been seen since that disappointing effort two months ago and may have her own ideas about the game. The fact that Paul Nicholls has put her into an event like this suggests that there are no grand plans for the mare, and the best that can be hoped is that she does the business and is perhaps claimed. Alvaro does at least have a course success to his credit but that was in selling company and he will struggle in races not much better than today's, while Minibule is another plater but at least he will be fit from a couple of runs on the all-weather. Turaath showed improved form when second at Huntingdon and at least stays the trip. He is fairly rated at present and can make the frame at least. It is the last chance saloon for Kiwi Babe though and in the hope that McCoy's strength will make the difference, she is the pick.
