held up, made headway before 3 out, joined leaders at 2 out, ridden to lead before the last, won going away
prominent, mistake 5 out and weakened, tailed off
raced in mid-division, ridden after 2 out and kept on, ran on well after last, not reach leader
prominent, joined leaders 3 out, riddden and outpaced at 2 out, weakened
held up, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, made no impression
held up, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, never a factor
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced after 2 out, made no impression
prominent and joined leaders before 3 out, every chance and kept on at 2 out, outpaced after last, not reach leaders
prominent, headed and outpaced before 3 out, kept on after 2 out, weakened after last
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, kept on at 2 out, weakend after last
VOLKOVKA scored twice over hurdles last winter and was placed in a Doncaster Grade 3. She wasn’t right when well beaten at Sandown in March and looks the one to beat. Set In Stone is up 5lb for scrambling home over the course and distance and takes a slight step-up in class while Gina Sacre is something of an unknown having been racing over fences in France. Laskadine has won four races but ran poorly on her reappearance in September and needs to do very much better. Lady Villanelle easily won a novices’ hurdle at Hexham a year ago but disappointed in her next two starts while three-times hurdles winner Evita Du Mesnil would prefer soft ground.
Volkovka (FR) 11-4 (11-9) Waited with in 4th, headway between horses into 3rd before 2 out where not fluent, weakened last, finished tired, 3rd of 4, 22 1/2l behind Hudson De Grugy (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Laskadine (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd when not fluent 2nd, not fluent 4th, ridden after 5th, soon lost place, well beaten after 3 out, 8th of 9, dist behind Beeno (11-5) at Perth 2m hcp (4) gs in Sep.
Marta Des Mottes (FR) 100-1 (11-6) Chased leaders out wide, went left and stumbled 3rd, lost place and towards rear after, tailed off 3 out, eased, last of 14, dist behind Herbiers (11-4) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Lady Villanelle (IRE) 9-4jfav (11-12) Tracked leader, ridden and outpaced 3 out, pulled up before the last, at Hexham 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Gine Sacre (FR) (11-0) 3rd of 10, 2l behind Hextrawel Du Porto (10-7) at Auteuil 2m 1f in May.
Blue Hawaii (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Mid-division, mistake 2 out, soon ridden, one pace thereafter, 6th of 9, 9 1/2l behind Treasured Company (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Evita Du Mesnil (FR) 9-1 (11-3) Midfield on outer, headway 3 out, ridden before 2 out, no extra after 2 out, 8th of 12, 8l behind Grey Girly (11-1) at Perth 2m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Set In Stone (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, went second 4 out, led 3 out, joined 2 out, soon ridden, led well inside final furlong, pressed again towards finish, just prevailed, won at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Oct beating Wor Verge (11-5) by shd, 9 ran.
Calliope 9-2 (11-10) Disputed lead, tracked leader 6th, ridden and one pace 3 out, weakened after last, 6th of 10, 16 1/2l behind Headscarf Lil (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Rubytwo 6-1 (10-6) Midfield, nudged along after 4th, not fluent 5th, dropped towards rear before 2 out where not fluent, soon struggling, 7th of 8, 34 1/2l behind Aptly Put (10-10) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
