held up towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 8th
mid-division, closed 2nd, went 2nd 6th until hit next, 2nd again 8th, just 3rd but still not ridden when fell 4 out
in rear, not fluent 4th, went remote 4th before 3 out
led until 3rd, stayed handy, lost place 12th, badly hampered 4 out, rider lost irons and soon well behind
tracked leader, led 3rd, pecked 3 out, headed next, no impression on winner last
in rear, mistake 9th (water), mistake next, behind 11th, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up
held up mid-division, left 3rd 4 out, pecked and weakened next
prominent, lost place 2nd, ridden and struggling after 7th, tailed off next, pulled up after
tracked leaders, pushed along in 4th when fell 4 out
NonRunner
As in the previous race, the bottom three in the weights are all recent winners. Inch Lala and Silent Steps carry a penalty, however, and Troubled Soul has gone up 8lb for scoring at Kelso. But this is a wide-open contest in which most have some sort of chance. Song Saa is one but she will struggle to reverse Kempton running with MIDNIGHT TARGET, who is only 4lb worse off. John Groucott’s mare beat The Bay Birch a length over course and distance in April, though the latter is fractionally better off so there should be little between the pair again. Collateral form gives Black Tulip every chance on these terms and others to consider include Miss Night Owl and Irish raider Synopsis.
Synopsis 14-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, ridden after 4 out, no impression before next, 9th of 12, 20 1/2l behind Allez Kal (10-3) at Cork 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Nov.
The Bay Birch (IRE) 18-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, steady headway on inside approaching 4 out, went 3rd 2 out, kept on run-in, no chance with winner, 3rd of 11, 11 1/4l behind Kapcorse (10-10) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Miss Night Owl 33-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out no impression on leading pair and weakened next, 3rd of 6, 34 1/4l behind Maria's Benefit (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f lst (1) gs in Nov.
River Icon 6-1 (12-2) Behind, headway 15th, chasing leaders when blundered 3 out, weakened after next, 4th of 10, 21 3/4l behind Little Bruce (11-1) at Hexham 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Midnight Target 3-1 (11-8) Shaded keen, chased leaders on inside, went 2nd at 9th, pushed along and one pace before 3 out, eased when no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 22l behind Marienstar (11-2) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Black Tulip 4-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, slow 3rd, not fluent 6th, closed after 10th, mistake and outpaced 4 out, rallied last, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Marienstar (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Skewiff 14-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, headway before 6 out, weakened from 2 out, 6th of 11, 12 1/2l behind Just A Sting (11-4) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Inch Lala (IRE) Evensfav (11-9) Tracked leader, left in lead 6th, clear from 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon shaken up, easily, won at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Gogo Baloo (10-5) by 11l, 5 ran.
Silent Steps (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Led, headed 9th, led 7 out, clear before 3 out, kept on well, won at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec beating Megaboost (11-0) by 23l, 5 ran.
Troubled Soul (IRE) 5-2 (11-9) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 9th, pushed along after 2 out, went 2nd before last, led flat, soon clear, readily, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Cool Valley (11-7) by 4l, 7 ran.
Song Saa 12-1 (11-11) Held up in 5th place, closer in 3rd place 9th, ridden and one pace before 3 out, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 8, 33 1/2l behind Marienstar (11-2) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
