Thursday featured a fair open card, featuring the
Test final.
The opening Div 3 435m standard featured a
re-match between Legal
Major, Kindred
Sparky and Gottabe
Rooney. Kindred
Sparky broke well again and made all despite running wide
at the last turn. Legal
Major broke poorly this week and gamely ran on to lose out by
just a short head.
In the Div 2 hurdles, Ronnies
Callum was sent off a short priced favourite after a few shoddy
efforts. Fear
Blackjack impeded him slightly at the start. Ronnies
Callum hit the front at the 3rd turned, but could not sustain
the gallop. Shelbourne
Magic led to the 3rd and took up the invitation to lead again as
Ronnies
Callum faded on the run in.
Snazzy
Time broke well (as usual) in the Div 1 hurdles event, but
slowed up going in to the first bend??? Strong
Flow swung round in front and held off Snazzy
Time from the last bend. Snazzy
Time ran on quite well.
Daisyfield
Seani was sent off a very short priced favourite in the stayers
event and despite a modest start, ran out a comfortable winner. Swift
Michael led until between the 4th and 5th bends and unfortunately
finished lame on the run in.Xamax
Capel kept on for second.
Fear
Mykeo led from start to finish in the Div 3 standard. She never
seemed to be really stretching out to be honest. The admirable Pork
Pie kept on well enough for second. Emporio
Caesar was out with the washing early doors and was also crowded
at the second bend. He stayed on ok for a close 3rd.
Droopys
Boss took his time to get on terms in the Div 2 puppy standard. Bigwood
Sheriff broke well and led until the run in. This was a
promising run. Droopys
Boss always looked like he had enough in the locker and swooped
by near the line.
Courts
Ad Queen produced a superb burst of early pace in the Div 2
standard. Returning from a long layoff, she ran an absolute blinder.
The lack of fitness told late on and one of Mr Bullen's favourites War
Of Attrition swooped late on to land the spoils. Tanner
Butler ran a very disappointing race. Ronnies
Champion checked off at the second bend and was never in the
race.
Mr St Pier should have banked a good few
sovereigns in the marathon. He was stuck at the bar and was denied a
clear run. Appearing late at the start he said "Bubbly
Casino does not stay this trip, I meant to lay this
one!" He failed to get the reddies on. Bubbly
Casino capitulated from the near the 7th bend and was beaten out
of sight. Silbury
Ruby had been running sour for some weeks, but found herself in
front here and won comfortably.
Blackstone
Billy made an impressive winning debut in the Div 1 maiden. He'd
already won seven races in Ireland and had also ran some smart
trials. I doubt he'll be a stranger to the winning enclosure in the
coming weeks. Bubbly
Midas's Irish form was a few grades below Blackstone
Billy, but little could be read from this performance. Bubbly
Midas broke poorly and checked off at the second bend and
finished down the khazi.
Royal
Officer ran out the winner of an open looking Div 1 puppy
standard. He was modestly away and crowded on the run up, but kept
on to take up the running at the 4th. Larkhill
Jackie towed him on until running wide off the last bend and
presenting the race to Royal
Officer. Bubbly
Magic was smashed up at the first bend and the bubbly mob
suffered a miserable evening.
Hee
Haws Cantona took a good strike rate into the Div 1
standard. He broke very well and led the field a merry dance. Journey
North was clumsy when challenging between the last two turns,
but was left in front on the run in as Hee
Haws Cantona faded on the run in.
January
Tiger rolled back the year in the Test final and made all the
running for a comfortable success. He did so at four years old. Big
Brett Coal (BBC) had been in brilliant form in recent weeks, but
had a tough draw here. BBC ran a very very long way below his best
form. Classy
Star stayed on well for second and Ceroc
Gypsy ran very respectively in third.
Fenland
Lark stayed on to win the Div 2 maiden, despite running wide and
suffering some crowding at the second bend. Paid
In Cash showed some smart early and led until the run in.
Favourite
punters were sent home happy as Droopys
Darina made all as a short priced jolly. Clonbony
Jubub held every chance in second.