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Timeform Eyecatcher: Sunday
ONLY BY NIGHT
Won, Listed Mares' Novices' Chase, Exeter, Sunday 9 February
The bare form isn't the easiest to assess due to market principals Fun Fun Fun and Only By Night pressing on too far out, though the fact the latter always looked like landing the odds despite those mid-race exertions underlines that she's much better than the proximity of both placed horses here might suggest.
Only By Night maintained her 100% record over fences, always travelling and jumping that little bit better than Fun Fun Fun and always looking in control on entering the home straight.
She remains open to improvement as a chaser, and will hold live claims if taking her chance in next month's Mrs Paddy Power Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, a race her yard is assembling a strong team for (also responsible for last year's winner Limerick Lace and current second favourite Bioluminescence)
Timeform Eyecatcher: Saturday
FEET ON THE GROUND
Third, 2m novice hurdle, Uttoxeter, Saturday 8 February
This is a straightforward contest to assess, Surrey Belle nothing like fully extended to keep the only previous winner in the field at bay having gone on three out, but Feet On The Ground in third shaped with plenty of promise from much further back.
She caught the eye somewhat on her previous start, too, not at all knocked about and given a little bit too much to do, taking a keen hold and making good progress from three out.
Feet On The Ground finished her race to good effect and will be very interesting moving forward now she's eligible for handicaps, and she's also bred to stay further than two miles.
Timeform Eyecatcher: Friday
IDEAL DES BORDES
Runner-up, 3m novice handicap chase, Kempton, Friday 7 February
Ideal des Bordes had made a winning start over fences at Wincanton and he produced an even better effort in defeat at Kempton on Friday.
Ideal des Bordes, who took up the running from before halfway, jumped boldly and didn't go down without a fight once headed at the final fence, pulling well clear of the remainder.
He found only a last-time winner too strong and remains one to be interested in over fences, with his unexposed profile offering encouragement of more to come.
Timeform Eyecatcher: Thursday
WHAT'S UP DARLING
Third, 2m beginners' chase, Thurles, Thursday 6 February
What's Up Darling continued his encouraging start over fences when third in a good-quality and competitive beginners' chase at Thurles and he appeals as one who could make his mark in a valuable handicap.
What's Up Darling jumped fine, bar a slight error at the third last which placed him on the backfoot, and he stuck to his task well in the straight without being able to get on terms with the front pair.
What's Up Darling showed he stays two and a half miles over hurdles and will benefit from stepping back up in trip.
Help Me Rhonda had looked unlucky not to finish much closer when she was hampered and stumbled badly on her return at Kempton last month and she again shaped better than the result back at the same venue on Wednesday.
The patiently-ridden Help Me Rhonda was short of room when attempting to make headway over a furlong out, but she kept on well into fifth close home, again leaving the impression she would have been closer with a clear run.
She was running off a mark only 2 lb higher than the one she defied over course and distance three starts ago and she looks capable of making an impact if granted more luck in running.
Ninth Loch was easy to back on his British debut last month, but it was a different story at Taunton on Tuesday as the now-Harry Derham-trained six-year-old was well found in the betting and rewarded each-way backers with third place, though it could have been even better were it not for a bad error three out.
Under 5lb-claiming amateur Victoria Malzard, Ninth Loch did well under the circumstances following that untimely error, having made up ground from off the pace – and stayed on well from two out without ever looking likely to peg back the first two home who were in a little group that had skipped clear.
A winner over 2¼m in France, Ninth Loch will benefit from return to at least that trip and shouldn't be long in getting off the mark for his current yard.
This was just an ordinary handicap with the exception of Ornately, who overcame inexperience to open her account on handicap debut, and looks capable of better still.
She started off in handicaps from a lowly mark considering his pedigree - out of a smart mare who finished fourth in the Irish 1000 Guineas, out of twice-raced half-sister to top-class winner up to a mile Rock of Gibraltar - and duly proved it to be very lenient indeed, inexperience holding her back at stages but the manner in which she asserted close home marks her down as capable of winning plenty more races.
It will be interesting to see if connections keep her going on the all-weather, but she should have no problem returned to turf, too, and she is very much one to keep on side moving forward representing a yard that do so well with such types.
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