DONCASTER (04 Jun 2005)

Good To Firm

2:20 Carling C2 Handicap (4) (4yo+,0-85)

[off 2:21] £7,062.25, £2,173.00, £1,086.50, £543.25 1m4f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Flotta (3) B G Powell 6 8-13 M Hills 9/1 77 — —

2 hd Jack Of Trumps (IRE) (7) G Wragg 5 9-2 S Drowne 8/1 80 — —

3 1 Feed The Meter (IRE) (13) M J Ryan 5 8-2 Saleem Golam(7) 4/1F 73 — —

4 1½ Jeepstar (9) T D Easterby 5 9-2 P Mulrennan(3) 6/1 83 — —

5 3 Merrymaker (10) W M Brisbourne 5 8-4 P P Mathers(5) 14/1 73 — —

6 ¾ Sir Sidney (11) J G Given 5 8-8 b R Mullen 20/1 72 — —

7 1½ Sunisa (IRE) (12) J Mackie 4 9-2 t Dale Gibson 100/1 80 — —

8 1 Our Teddy (IRE) (8) P A Blockley 5 8-12 F Lynch 10/1 76 — —

9 hd Ring Of Destiny (2) J Jay 6 9-5 E Ahern 16/1 83 — —

10 1¼ Lucky Leo (1) Ian Williams 5 8-6 T Hamilton(3) 5/1 73 — —

11 1¼ Night Sight (USA) (14) Mrs S Lamyman 8 8-5 D Mernagh 18/1 69 — —

12 5 Doctored (6) P D Evans 4 8-6 b R Havlin 100/1 70 — —

13 nk Dancing Lyra (4) J W Hills 4 9-1 J Fanning 8/1 79 — —

14 dist Countrywide Luck (5) N P Littmoden 4 9-4 T P Queally 28/1 82 — —

14 ran TIME 2m 31.52s (slow by 0.52s) TOTAL SP 120%

1st OWNER: G Hatchard,R Gunn,L Gilbert & R Williams BRED: W G R Wightman TRAINER: B G Powell

2nd OWNER: Mollers Racing

3rd OWNER: Ms Barbara Ashton

TOTE WIN £12.10 PL £3.60, £2.80, £2.00; Ex £87.70; CSF £77.26; TRICAST £338.86

ANALYSIS: Quickish ground for this six-race card, which started with this competitive handicap.

Run at a decent gallop from the outset, with Jeepstar adopting his favourite front-running role, closely pressed by Feed The Meter, the race panned out well for horses coming from off the pace, and it was FLOTTA who just got the better of Jack Of Trumps, with the trailblazing pair having to settle for minor honours.

Flotta, not at his best last time, had previously run Jack Of Trumps to a short head on the Polytrack and was 7lb better off here, which was enough to turn the tables.

Jack Of Trumps ran well in defeat, proving his latest Chester effort to be a below-par display. Feed The Meter continues in good heart but she got into a battle a long way out with Jeepstar. To her credit, she stayed on well to the line.

Merrymaker should not be long in getting his head in front, especially with a bit of give in the ground.

Jeepstar continues to shape well in defeat but his style of running leaves him vulnerable to strong finishers. He may be worth a try over further now that he is settling better in front.