| Course: TOWCESTER | Race date:06/01/06 | Race time:2:20 | Runners:13 |
| Race distance:3m½f | Going:Soft | Winners time:6m 51.70s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heartache | Wayne Hutchinson | R Mathew | 10-0 | 9 | 83 | 70 | 13/2 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 1 | ||
| Never Awol | Tom Messenger | B N Pollock | 10-9 | 9 | 96 | 86 | 8/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 2 | 2 | |
| The River Joker | Mark Nicolls | John R Upson | 10-8 | 10 | 88 | 83 | 33/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3 | 6 | |
| Gaye Dream | Jason Maguire | T R George | 11-1 | 8 | 80 | 85 | 6/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4 | 9 | |
| Kappelhoff | Matthew Batchelor | Mrs L Richards | 10-0 | 9 | 67 | 70 | 16/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5 | ½ | |
| Jack Fuller | Leighton Aspell | P R Hedger | 11-12 | 9 | 83 | 96 | 8/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 6 | 8 | |
| Maybeseven | John Pritchard | R Dickin | 9-7 | 12 | 55 | 70 | 33/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 7 | 3½ | |
| Dalus Park | Mr S Morris | C C Bealby | 11-1 | 11 | 60 | 90 | 10/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 8 | 13 | |
| Mac Dargin | Tony Evans | N A Twiston-Davies | 11-12 | 7 | 39 | 96 | 16/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 9 | 27 | |
| Shrove Tuesday | R C Colgan | A J Martin | 9-10 | 7 | 0 | 71 | 4/1F | NA | NA | NA | NA | F | ||
| Indian Laburnum | Lee Vickers | C C Bealby | 10-0 | 9 | 0 | 73 | 9/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | UR | ||
| Pardini | John McNamara | M F Harris | 11-8 | 7 | 0 | 92 | 16/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | PU |
The winner's owner-breeder and trainer conceded that a good run early in his career led to trying two miles on good ground and as such there are serious grounds to expect further improvement from this lowly mark as he was rated higher over hurdles and is coming into his own under optimum conditions.
Never Awol did nothing wrong here unlike previous wins when he nearly came to a standstill when ahead on the run-in. He looked to have the edge all the way up the straight but he could not rally when headed as previously and the handicapper has probably got his measure now.
Gaye Dream was taken wide on the course for better ground and stayed on past tired rivals in the last half-mile without threatening to land a blow.
Kappelhoff had conditions in his favour but this trip stretches him as he showed, running well until hitting the home turn. He lunged tiredly over the last which does not say much for those behind him.
Jack Fuller ran a similar race, much better than the bare form, as he actually led after the third-last and looked a leading player until his big weight told into the home turn, and he stopped as if shot.
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