tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, unable to quicken and lost 3rd close home
slow into stride, raced wide soon close up, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on to go 3rd close home
led, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
close up in rear, headway over 1f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, led close home
tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed close home
Iconic Belle is upped in grade after completing an all-weather hat-trick. Molinari has switched stables since a third at Windsor in October but Ben Lilly is interesting as he was highly tried after rattling up a five-timer in the autumn and has been dropped 5lb since his last run. SAGE ADVICE (NAP) only weakened on the run-in when sixth in Boodles Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival. An earlier winner over hurdles, he scored on the Flat in Ireland last year and may have been let in lightly here. Bollin Margaret won at Redcar and Thirsk last year but she looks a few pounds high on her return.
Ben Lilly (IRE) 66-1 (8-0) Close up, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, 8th of 23, 7 1/2l behind On To Victory (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Sage Advice (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, steady headway on inside approaching 2 out, chased leaders between last 2, stayed on same pace run-in lost modest 5th towards finish, 6th of 22, 6 1/4l behind Jeff Kidder (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Bollin Margaret 10-3 (9-10) Held up in touch, ridden and edged towards near rail 3f out, faded over 1f out, 6th of 8, 5l behind Golden Hind (9-7) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp fll (5) pol in Sep.
Iconic Belle 11-10fav (10-4) Tracked leaders out wide, went 2nd after 2f, challenged 2f out, led over 1f out, pushed along and stayed on gamely inside final furlong, always doing enough, won at Chelmsford City 2m hcp (6) pol in Mar beating Three Dragons (9-3) by nk, 9 ran.
Molinari (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Chased leader, led 3f out, ridden over 1f out, headed final 100 yards, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Water's Edge (9-12) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (4) sft in Oct.