Formerly the Tolworth Hurdle run at Sandown early in January but moved to this venue and time to bolster this newly instituted fixture. It can be considered a qualified success, attracting its biggest field since 2008 and producing a useful winner, though Farren Glory would probably have taken the honours but for falling. The ground was “heavy” (as official) but not desperate, with the winner’s final 4f of 61.76s translating to a finishing speed of 102.3%.
JANGO BAIE (h144 here, 132+ previously) made it 2 out of 2 over hurdles with a useful effort, probably a fortunate winner and workmanlike rather than better than that, but still likely to continue to go the right way. He tracked the pace travelling comfortably, made an effort before 3 out and led approaching the last, having a fight on his hands until asserting well near the finish. He should stay 20f.
FAVOUR AND FORTUNE (h140 here, 128 previously) had been shaping up well over hurdles, winning at Hereford and Wetherby on his previous 2 starts, but this was a whole lot better again and shows him to be useful. He raced in mid-field until dropping to last before 3 out, improved well at the next and disputed the lead soon after until held near the finish. He is bred to stay further but is showing no shortage of pace at present.
CANNOCK PARK (123 here, 130 previously) ran respectably and a bit better than the result, paying late on for making much of the running until between the last 2.
MAKING HEADWAY (123 here, 132 previously) was shunned in the betting and a bit disappointing, though his form from last time took a couple of blows in this. Held up, he could make little headway when asked.
FLORIDA DREAMS (121+ here, 129 previously) was better than the result though not necessarily up to this grade just yet, held up but already asked for his effort when badly hampered 2 out.
KAMSINAS (111 here, 134 previously) might not have achieved all that much in winning at Haydock the time before but should have done better than this even so, soon beaten after a slight mistake 3 out.
FARREN GLORY (h146+ here and previously) looked very much like winning when jumping right and falling 2 out, travelling strongly into the lead and matched at long odds on in running just before that. He had been less than foot-perfect when winning at Fairyhouse the time before but looks to have very useful ability at least.
TELLHERTHENAME (h0 here, 132 previously) dropped out quickly 3 out and seemed to be amiss.
JULY FLOWER (h0 here, 147? previously) had good claims on the pick of her form in France but ran no sort of race, making only brief headway from rear after halfway, and can’t have been herself.
