raced keenly, held up mid-division, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, soon beaten
mid-division, lost place 7th, outpaced 3 out, never on terms
held up behind when fell 5th
held up, headway 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on to go 2nd last, held flat
tracked leaders, led 4th to 8th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened
led, headed 4th, tracked leader, led again 8th, ridden and headed between last 2, kept on same pace
tracked leader, lost place 9th, soon weakened, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, headway to go 2nd when hit 4 out, led between last 2, ridden and held on under pressure flat
Having been twice a winner at Chepstow this season, Silver Kate has been in good heart this term on her first season over hurdles but she takes a big step up in class today in a race where it is hard to get away from WHITEOAK, who should appreciate the drop in class today having been beaten by Big Buck's in Newbury's Long Walk Hurdle last time, and she gets the vote with Strawberry looking the best of the rest. The selection does not win very often but Don McCain's mare should be too classy for her rivals today having won well in a mares' only listed race prior to that run at Newbury. Emma Lavelle's Easter Legend won well here in November on her most recent start but she is meeting the selection on 15lbs worse terms than if this was a handicap, while Amber Brook was let down by her jumping at Kempton last time and is held by the selection on running at the same venue previously. Nicky Henderson's Strawberry has like most of her stable companions shown improved form this term with wins at Fakenham and Kempton in her last two starts, finding plenty when pressured late on in the race on the latter occasion. She looks the main danger to the selection, Whiteoak, who should be too good for her rivals.
Whiteoak (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Always in rear, struggling approaching 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, 41l behind Big Buck's (11-7) at Newbury 3m hdl G1 (1) hvy in Dec.
Amber Brook (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Raced on inside, held up in rear, headway after 3 out, staying on and disputing close 4th when fell 2 out, in a race won by Strawberry (11-4) at Kempton 3m hdl (2) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Delayed Approach (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Always towards rear, 9th of 13, 50l behind Chicago Grey (11-12) at Thurles 2m hdl hvy in Nov.
Easter Legend 7-1 (11-12) Behind, headway 3 out, soon tracking leaders, led after last, ran on well, won at Ascot 2m 6f mares hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov beating Ambrose Princess (10-9) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
L'Aventure (FR) 5-1fav (10-11) Tracked leader, blundered bady 18th, led 20th, stayed on well from last, won at Kelso 4m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec beating Bold Ransom (11-11) by 16l, 9 ran.
Silver Kate (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Held up, headway 4th, chased winner after 3 out, beaten when not fluent last, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Queen Poline (10-12) at Warwick 2m 5f mares NH nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Strawberry (IRE) 7-2fav (11-4) Raced wide, led and disputed, not fluent 5th, definite advantage 4 out, ridden approaching last, kept on well flat, won at Kempton 3m hdl (2) gs in Dec beating Love of Tara (10-9) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Sweetheart 125-1 (11-0) In touch, headway to dispute 3rd from 6th until weakened and hit 3 out, beaten when mistakes last 2, tailed off, 7th of 8, 49l behind Big Buck's (11-7) at Newbury 3m hdl G1 (1) hvy in Dec.
