held up, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before next, behind when pulled up before last
held up, mistake 5th, headway next, led approaching 2 out, clear when blundered last, easily
held up, behind when pulled up before 5th
led, headed approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on, no chance with winner
tracked leader, mistake 5th, ridden next, mistake and weakened 3 out
not fluent, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next
held up and keen, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
A race that lacks strength in depth and it is hard to look beyond Ask Me What and Clingstone. The latter showed plenty of promise when narrowly failing to make a winning debut over hurdles at Wincanton's Boxing Day meeting. The daughter of Henbit looked all over the winner on her next start at Musselburgh but failed to get home over the two-and-a-half-mile trip and will be better suited by the return to today's distance. However, the Tom George-trained mare may have to settle for minor honours once again as preference is for Ask Me What. The six-year-old showed fair form when lifting a Folkestone bumper in December and was then far from disgraced when placed on her hurdling debut at Chepstow last month with Mandy's Rose pulled up. This looks less competitive and the Venetia Williams-trained mare is taken to show the benefit of her latest outing. The remainder are difficult to fancy and in the circumstances, it would be no surprise if Ginger McCain's newcomer Nowt made an impact at this level.
