led early, headed after 2f, remained prominent, pushed along 3f out, gradually weakened
slowly away, keen and soon made up ground to lead after 2f, went three lengths clear after 4f, reduced lead before 4f out, pushed along when headed 2f out, weakened thereafter
in touch, went second turning for home, led 2f out, soon ridden when headed 1f out, outpaced by winner near finish, kept on
held up, towards rear, when raced wide to 4f out, outpaced from 3f out, tailed off from 3f out, gradually weakened never in contention
prominent, led before 1f out, quickly asserted inside final furlong, ran on strongly near finish, easily
held up last, headway from 4f out, went third 3f out, ridden before 1f out, soon outpaced by front pair, kept on one pace near finish
keen early, held up, outpaced before halfway, tailed off from 3f out, never a factor
Valley Of Flowers included a course and distance success in a recent hat-trick though today’s testing ground may prove a problem. Matchless placed at Doncaster last month and looks to have decent claims on that form but FLASH BARDOT makes more appeal. The latter was racing on soft going for the first time when scoring at Newbury and there looks more to come on this similar ground.
Matchless (IRE) 18-1 (9-10) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, no impression towards finish, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind In The Breeze (9-9) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (3) sft in Sep.
Quantum Leap 4-1jfav (10-3) Dwelt, in rear, ridden 2f out, no real progress when not clear run under 1f out, kept on, never a danger, 5th of 10, 3l behind Award Dancer (9-4) at Redcar 1m 6f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Dark Jedi (IRE) 9-4fav (10-0) Mid-division, went 2nd 6f out, stayed far side home straight, tried to press leader 4f out, soon outpaced and held, gradually weakened, 4th of 6, 37 1/2l behind Cool Party (8-12) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (4) hvy in Sep.
Detective 11-2 (9-9) Held up in rear, took closer order 2f out, soon ridden, edged left entering final furlong, soon kept on same pace, eased near finish, 4th of 5, 2 3/4l behind Where's Jeff (9-2) at Hamilton 1m 4f hcp (4) gs in Sep.
Flash Bardot 5-1 (9-0) Held up off the pace in 6th, good headway over 2f out, led inside final 2f, came clear inside final furlong, idled in front and reduced lead towards finish, always doing enough, won at Newbury 1m 4f hcp fll (4) sft in Sep beating Shagpyle (9-9) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Valley Of Flowers (IRE) 13-2 (10-2) Held up last early, moved to midfield before halfway, closed on leaders 5f out, travelled smoothly into contention before 2f out, led before 1f out, asserted under hands and heels inside final furlong, pushed out, easily, won at Newcastle 2m hcp (6) pol in Oct beating Doublethetrouble (10-0) by 4l, 9 ran.
Libby (IRE) 13-8 (11-0) Tracked leader in close 2nd, pushed along and dropped to 3rd before 2 out where not fluent, no extra run-in and dropped to 4th closing stages, 4th of 6, 5 1/4l behind Media Naranja (11-0) at Limerick 2m mdn fll sft in Mar.
