MUSSELBURGH (12 Apr 2005)

Good To Firm

4:50 Forth2 Fillies' Handicap (5) (3yo+,0-70)

[off 4:54] £4,196.40, £1,291.20, £645.60, £322.80 5f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Mecca´s Mate (3) D W Barker 4 9-1 R Winston 9/4F 57 — —

2 1 La Vie Est Belle (2) D Nicholls 4 9-9 A Nicholls 4/1 65 — —

3 ½ Bint Royal (IRE) (11) Miss V Haigh 7 8-13 v M Fenton 16/1 55 — —

4 nk Mrs Spence (1) M W Easterby 4 8-9 2t Dale Gibson 20/1 51 — —

5 ½ Folga (8) J G Given 3 9-3 P Hanagan 10/1 70 — —

6 nk Skiddaw Wolf (5) B Smart 3 8-10 F Lynch 12/1 63 — —

7 1 Linda Green (12) M R Channon 4 8-13 A Culhane 11/2 55 — —

8 shd Star Applause (10) J S Goldie 5 8-9 11v N Mackay 20/1 51 — —

9 nk Fishlake Flyer (IRE) (7) D Carroll 4 9-0 D Tudhope(5) 10/1 61 — —

10 hd Obe Bold (IRE) (4) A Berry 4 9-1 p P P Mathers(5) 16/1 62 — —

11 3 Safranine (IRE) (6) Miss A Stokell 8 9-2 p Ann Stokell 33/1 58 — —

12 3½ Reeds Rains (9) D A Nolan 7 8-2 16 D Fentiman(7) 100/1 51 — —

12 ran TIME 1m 1.10s (slow by 2.50s) TOTAL SP 117%

NON RUNNER: Elvina

1st OWNER: David T J Metcalfe BRED: Miss C Tagart TRAINER: D W Barker

2nd OWNER: Chalfont Foodhalls Ltd & I Blakey

3rd OWNER: Miss V Haigh

TOTE WIN £2.70 PL £1.40, £1.80, £4.40; Ex £11.60; CSF £9.96; TRICAST £116.87Place 6 £8.02, Place 5 £5.96

PLACEPOT £13.70 to a £1 stake. Pool: £33,808.75. 1,798.45 winning tickets.

QUADPOT £3.00 to a £1 stake. Pool: £2,609.40. 640.70 winning tickets.

ANALYSIS: Just a few in obviously good form ahead of this typically uncompetitive fillies' handicap and MECCA'S MATE probably did not have to improve much on last week's Wolverhampton second, leading over 1f out and holding on despite edging left. That said, she is lightly-raced for a sprinter and has a progressive profile so there could well be better still to come.

La Vie Est Belle did better than over 7f last week, keeping on in a style which suggests that 6f may prove her best trip nowadays and confirming that a change of stable has not caused her to lose her ability.

The first two raced on the stands' side so Bint Royal was at a slight disadvantage on the opposite part of the track and also had to be switched wide to challenge so shaped better than the bare result - this fast 5f was sharp enough for her and reverting to 6f+ may well suit.

Mrs Spence also shaped better than her finishing position as she did not show the early speed to take advantage of her plum draw and was left with plenty to do on the stands' rail, then met trouble in running as she made headway in the latter stages. She achieved little in 2004 but has tumbled in the weights as a result and the fitting of a tongue strap may have helped her here - she is worth keeping an eye on.