Good To Soft

4:00 EBF/Doncaster Bloodstock Sales Mares' Only Standard Open NH Flat Race Final (Class A) (Listed Race) (4-7yo)

[off 4:00] £14,500.00, £5,500.00, £2,750.00, £1,250.00, £625.00, £375.00 (2m110y) 2m½f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Funny Times N G Richards 4 10-10 B Harding 7/1 — —

2 7 Heltornic (IRE) M Scudamore 5 11-4 T Scudamore 5/1 — —

3 3 Boberelle (IRE) C Tinkler 5 11-4 A Tinkler 5/1 — —

4 nk Classic Quart (IRE) M Scudamore 4 10-10 J A McCarthy 33/1 — —

5 6 Diklers Rose (IRE) K G Reveley 6 11-4 T J Murphy 14/1 — —

6 1¾ Ballybawn House J C Fox 4 10-1 R Stephens(5) 66/1 — —

7 3½ Fortuna Favente (IRE) J Howard Johnson 5 11-0 G Lee 14/1 — —

8 2½ She´s No Muppet Jonjo O´Neill 5 11-4 A P McCoy 12/1 — —

9 4 Create A Storm (IRE) J G Portman 5 11-0 J P McNamara 100/1 — —

10 5 Pearly Bay P F Nicholls 7 11-4 R Walsh 6/1 — —

11 6 Maximoss (IRE) Dr J R J Naylor 7 11-0 C Llewellyn 100/1 — —

12 ¾ Don And Gerry (IRE) P D Evans 4 10-6 R Thornton 33/1 — —

13 4 Fallout (IRE) J W Mullins 4 10-3 R Young(3) 25/1 — —

14 1½ Kentford Lady J W Mullins 4 10-6 S Curran 100/1 — —

15 1¼ Arctic Moss (IRE) E W Tuer 6 11-5 T J Phelan(5) 16/1 — —

16 dist Lily Grey (FR) Miss Venetia Williams 6 11-0 S Thomas 66/1 — —

17 dist Candello N J Henderson 7 11-7 M A Fitzgerald 9/2F — —

SU She´s Our Daisy (IRE) S C Burrough 5 10-11 Mr W P Kavanagh(7) 50/1 — —

18 ran TIME 4m 5.10s TOTAL SP 122%

1st OWNER: E Briggs BRED: E Briggs TRAINER: N G Richards

2nd OWNER: Stephen W Molloy

3rd OWNER: George Ward

TOTE TRIFECTA w/u WIN £7.10 PL £2.80, £2.00, £2.30; Ex £36.30; CSF £39.67w/u

ANALYSIS: This was undoubtedly a competitive contest of its kind, but as a form guide, its Listed status is flattering and more reflective of the race's significance to the breeding industry. History suggests that few, if any, of the mares on show will make their mark at a high level over jumps, although they could subsequently give birth to a few who do.

On the plus side, the early pace wasn't bad by bumper standards, although the fact that the field was so thoroughly strung out down the straight was also indicative of the wide range of ability on show.

By far the best in class was FUNNY TIMES, who showed even more improvement from second race to third than she had from first to second, pulling a long way clear after taking control midway down the straight. Still only four and with age very much on her side, she should have no trouble winning northern novice hurdles next season and, being so closely related to Better Times Ahead, she has every chance of confirming the promise shown here.

Heltornic had created a tremendous impression when hosing up on her Fakenham debut and she underlined her potential here, running an excellent race on a vastly different racecourse. Having dictated a sensible gallop, she didn't help her chance by hanging badly left after levelling up for home, but she kept going admirably under pressure and emerges with plenty of credit.

Likewise, stablemate Classic Quart did nothing wrong and the pair should give connections something to look forward to for next season.

Splitting the two Scudamore runners, the diminutive Boberelle stepped up on her easy Ludlow victory, but her size could restrict her when she meets obstacles, making the black-type she gained here all the more important.

Diklers Rose stayed on quite pleasingly through the final half-mile without ever quite getting involved in the fight. Her pedigree and running style scream the word ‘stayer' and she should come into her own when encountering three miles and proper soft ground next term.

Ballybawn House confirmed the form with those she had finished in front of at Chepstow, while Fortuna Favente did OK considering she was hampered by the fall of She's Our Daisy leaving the back.

Create A Storm has more scope than some of those she faced and should do much better in time, as should Pearly Bay, who was rather tapped for toe at the business end.