mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, hung left and headway 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, over 5f out, hung left and weakened over 2f out
held up in rear, smooth headway over 2f out, led and hung left over 1f out, soon driven, ran on
held up towards rear, struggling over 4f out, tailed off
chased leaders, weakened 2f out, eased
held up towards rear, headway over 4f out, close 3rd 2f out, no extra final furlong
held up towards rear, smooth headway over 2f out, ridden to chase winner inside final furlong, ran on
mid-division, headway over 5f out, weakened final furlong
led, soon clear, headed over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong
raced keenly early, chased clear leader until over 6f out, weakened 4f out, eased 3f out, tailed off
raced with 1 other chasing clear leader, went 2nd over 6f out, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, headway over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
held up well in rear, struggling over 4f out, stayed on same pace final 2f, never dangerous
hung right most of way, mid-division, headway over 5f out, hung to stand side over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
always in rear, struggling over 4f out, tailed off
chased leaders, weakened 4f out, soon eased, tailed off
in touch in chasing group, went badly wrong and pulled up over 6f out
held up, always behind, struggling over 4f out, tailed off
in touch in chasing group, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
mid-division, headway over 5f out, weakened over 2f out
It is probably significant that bumper king Willie Mullins sends just one over for this mares' contest, and we should take the hint with MORNING SUPREME, while Megasue, Kerada, Polly Potter and Candy Creek look short list material. Mullins saddled nine in Cheltenham's Champion Bumper and Morning Supreme finished second of the yard's runners, fifth in the race itself albeit 14 lengths adrift of Quel Esprit. She raced very freely that day and would need to settle better here, but her debut win was a real eye catcher and it is hard to believe that she gave her true running at the Festival. We are prepared to give her another chance. Megasue has managed to achieve what few do, and that is to defy a penalty for winning on debut by following up at Fontwell in October. Both victories were on good ground, she clearly goes well fresh, and Gary Moore might have unearthed a very talented mare. Kerada represents Nicky Henderson and looks the pick of his pair of runners, although she was a shade disappointing at Sandown last time when finishing more than three lengths adrift of third-placed Polly Potter and there is no obvious reason why those placings should be reversed today. Candy Creek should not be far away from the selection on a line through Dunguib, though she has to prove she goes on anything but heavy ground, while Dikler's Oscar was found out last time and Jubilee Queen would have to improve plenty for her debut success to take this. Morning Supreme looks the pick.
Diklers Oscar (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) In rear, some headway on inside over 1f out, 10th of 18, 12l behind Golden Sunbird (11-4) at Sandown 2m mrs N H flat lst (1) gd in Mar.
Megasue 4-6fav (11-0) In touch, headway over 4f out, led over 1f out, soon clear, easily, won at Fontwell 1m 6f NH flat (6) gd in Oct beating Gilwen Glory (10-7) by 12l, 11 ran.
Candy Creek (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, progress into 5th approaching straight, 4th over 2f out, soon no extra, 4th of 8, 24l behind Dunguib (11-9) at Navan 2m N H flat hvy in Dec.
Jubilee Queen (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Behind, chased leaders over 5f out, led over 2f out, driven out, won at Bangor 2m 1f cond & am NH flat (5) gs in Feb beating Timeshift (11-1) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Kerada (FR) 4-1fav (11-4) Soon chasing leader, driven and every chance over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 5th of 18, 9l behind Golden Sunbird (11-4) at Sandown 2m mrs N H flat lst (1) gd in Mar.
Lady Bluesky 7-2fav (11-0) Held up behind, headway 7f out, challenged over 1f out, soon every chance, kept on, held towards finish, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Roses (10-1) at Catterick 2m cond & am NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
Liss Na Tintri (IRE) 1-2fav (11-2) Held up, headway to 6th 3f out, ridden into 5th 2f out, stayed on to 3rd over 1f out, kept on well final furlong to lead close home, won at Limerick 2m mrs N H flat hvy in Mar beating Sainte Baronne (10-9) by nk, 10 ran.
Miss Overdrive 3-1fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, led over 1f out, driven out, won at Southwell 2m N H flat (5) gd in Mar beating Moscow Jewel (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Morning Supreme (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Led, soon clear, headed over 2f out, kept on, soon no extra, 5th of 24, 27l behind Dunguib (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m N H flat G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Miss Nightshade 16-1 (11-1) Led, ridden 2f out, hung right over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 20, 1 1/4l behind Lady Vera (11-1) at Warwick 2m mrs NH flat (4-7yo) (6) gs in Mar.
Miss Vertical 9-1 (10-6) Held up mid-division, ridden approaching 4f out, stayed on final 2f, 3rd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Vivona Hill (11-11) at Catterick 2m NH flat (5) gs in Dec.
Polly Potter 14-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, stayed on to take 3rd inside final furlong, not pace to chase leaders, 3rd of 18, 6l behind Golden Sunbird (11-4) at Sandown 2m mrs N H flat lst (1) gd in Mar.
Basford Lass 20-1 (10-10) Went left start, behind most of way, 11th of 18, 14l behind Golden Sunbird (11-4) at Sandown 2m mrs N H flat lst (1) gd in Mar.
Chilli Rose 2-1fav (10-6) Held up, pushed along over 4f out, soon headway, stayed on over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Southwell 2m N H flat (5) gd in Mar beating Seraglio (10-6) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Eastern Paramour (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway over 6f out, not much room and hampered 3f out, soon lost place, rallied to go 2nd 1f out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 16, 7l behind Peveril Pandora (10-9) at Ludlow 2m N H flat (4) gs in Feb.
Hopeand 11-8fav (10-1) Tracked leaders, led over 4f out, ridden when headed final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Born To Perform (10-8) at Huntingdon 2m NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
Lilla Sophia 50-1 (9-13) Held up, headway 2f out to chase winner, soon one paced, 2nd of 14, 8l behind Storm Brig (10-11) at Kelso 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
Naughty Naughty 6-1 (10-6) Held up mid-division, effort over 2f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Miss Overdrive (10-11) at Southwell 2m N H flat (5) gd in Mar.
Seraglio (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Chased clear leader, led over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Chilli Rose (10-6) at Southwell 2m N H flat (5) gd in Mar.
Whirlijig (IRE) 8-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, stayed on from over 2f out, 3rd of 13, 5l behind Roses (10-1) at Catterick 2m cond & am NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
