Welcome to cold Norway on a nice after christmas race day, today the Marathon fillies and mare get a chance to show their class. As often in those Graded Marathon, or near Marathons like this 14f test, lots of the horses only have few Graded experience, as the Graded races are few at this distance. But we have the 2nd<\/SUP> place horse from last year Well What and a few Stakes winners in todays field. Before we start freezing let\u2019s take a look at the runners: #1 KERIS DAGGER BED(KY) 8\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=143389<\/A><\/P> 21 Races \u2013 6 Wins \u2013 211,960$<\/P> The 4yo Empire Maker filly is a Marathon specialist, and has 3 stakes wins on her record this season, however recently she looked like after 13 races already this season she has hit the wall. After a disappointing 13th<\/SUP> in the Equinics, the biggest Race for Marathon Fillies this year, she rebounded to win a stakes race over 16f, however since then she is struggling, her last outing she showed a 87 still good for a 3rd<\/SUP> in a stakes race, but she finished off the board in the 2 races before with a 79 and a 89, way off the 102 she ran back in September. She could likely take a break, but perhaps she can run out of her mini crisis today. She likes to be on or in the lead early. #2 <\/SPAN>THE BIG HIT(KY) 7\/2 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=1806<\/A> 30 Races \u2013 5 Wins \u2013 237,529$ The 4yo Storm Cat filly looks just like the most untypical Storm Cat ever, searching for his best distance all career long, the Storm Cat Diesis cross seems to have found it in Turf Marathons. Last time out, running 14f for the first time, she ran a great 98, winning by 3 \u00bc lengths running away in a Stakes race. The performance impressed the bookies to rate her at 7\/2 today. It was her first win on turf, after flip flopping in surface and distances from 8 to 16f for a long time. Let\u2019s see, if she can confirm the performance, or the struggle for a niche to win at will continue. The 4yo likes to be near the lead all race, and then move away late. #3 <\/SPAN>WELL WHAT(FR) 3\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=75982<\/A> 27 Races \u2013 6 Wins \u2013 225,776$ After running in only 7 races this season, winning only 1 ALW race, the 5yo Dream Well Mare returns to Norway, where she finished 2nd<\/SUP> in this event last year, and this was by far her best career result, which saw her win 2 Ungraded Stakes races before. This season has been a struggle for her, running distances from 12-16f on the turf, but really lacking consistency and class, the best speed figure was a 106 over 13f, but that was only good for a 3rd<\/SUP> place stakes finish that day. Last time out she was 2nd<\/SUP> in a 16f Stakes race, just being caught on the stretch by 2 lengths. Taking the lead early is her favourite running style, and has led to her best results. #4 <\/SPAN>HIGH N DEEP(JPN) 3\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=13111<\/A> 7 Races \u2013 5 Wins \u2013 155,900$ The 3yo deep Impact filly just started her racing career this May, and since then she has progressed and matured very well, after winning the first four in a row, she went up to a Grade 1 Race in New Zealand, but found the competition to heavy, and finished 4th<\/SUP> in the 12f event, after that she rebounded nicely, with a 3rd<\/SUP> in an ALW, and last time out with a cracker performance, a 111 over 12f in an open ALW, which is by far the nicest tune up for this 14f event, a distance which she has proven to stay in her 4th<\/SUP> career race with a nice 94 in an immpressive win. She is installed the joint favourite, and looking at her flexible running style she should fit well in that race today. #5 <\/SPAN>BLAME GREG(KY) 5\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=148639<\/A> 22 Races \u2013 4 Wins \u2013 135,457$ Last time out the 4yo Empire Maker filly finally won her first stakes race, after 5 unsuccesful attempts, and coming in with the confidence from a 16f stakes win should give a boost to speed. However the 95 looks a little slow compared to the competition today, so it\u2019s likely the long time ALW runner will have to improve. Being a late developer, the filly ran her best speed so far back in October, when finishing 3rd<\/SUP> in a 12f event with a 102. After that 2 off-track performances kind of hindered her maturing, but now she seems to get comfortable. She likes to run from the back end of the field, and that may sometimes lead into missing the right time for the finish, but with lots of early speed, she may take on some late tiring front runners. #6 BRUNNHILDE(KY) 16\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=54846<\/A><\/P> 13 Races \u2013 4 Wins \u2013 132,020$<\/P> Well, the 3yo Theatrical filly is coming in with 2 wins in a row and has dominated the ALW class recently, with 3 wins and 3 seconds in her last 6 races, all over distances between 11 and 14f. But she looks a tap slower than the competition she faces today, with her best performance a 92 over 12f back in July. Let\u2019s see how she handles the Graded competition, but she surely needs to crack the 100 today to go for 3 in a row today.