held up in mid-division, headway 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and one pace from 2 out
held up in touch, headway 3rd, mistake next, not fluent 5th, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway 4th, challenged 2 out, kept on well flat, led close home
chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, stayed on approaching last, edged left and kept on flat
prominent, mistake and lost place 5th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last
held up in touch, weakened 3 out
with leaders, led 3rd, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on same pace
held up, ridden and still well behind after 3 out, good headway approaching last, ran on well flat
always behind, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway 3rd, weakened after 3 out
held up, mistake 2nd, ridden and effort approaching 2 out, soon beaten
mid-division, ridden and lost place after 3rd, soon behind
always prominent, led 2 out, soon ridden, kept on flat, headed close home
held up, headway when blundered 2 out, no impression after
ridden 3 out, always towards rear
prominent, ridden and not fluent 2 out, weakening when mistake and unseated rider last
in touch, ridden and not fluent 4th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
As usual this is a fantastic way to start the Festival as all the leading contenders come into the race with rock-solid form to their names. Not least Albuhera, who has improved all season and has been progressing through the novice ranks at a real rate of knots. However, Garde Champetre, Brave Inca and Cardenas are others that also have to be seriously considered but in the search for a big-priced winner to kick-start the meeting Perle De Puce could provide the ideal platform to launch the three-day battle with the bookmakers. The Nicky Henderson-trained mare burst onto the British scene with a gutsy performance when getting the better of Lingo in a Grade 1 hurdle at Ascot just before Christmas - easily accounting for a below-par Albuhera and a host of other top-class rival to-boot. The daughter of Snurge had reportedly benefited greatly from a schooling session with Yogi Breisner before that outing and underlined her potential in sticking to the task when hard pressed in the closing stages. Perle De Puce was then in the process of running a solid race when she took a heavy fall at the last at Sandown - where she looked to be going equally as well as Garde Champetre until that point and may have even raised her game once more had she taken the flight cleanly. It is difficult to split Henderson's charge and her fellow French-bred on that effort but, she had done very little wrong until her Sandown experience and is given the benefit of the doubt today. It is also worth bearing in mind that she receives a handy 7lb mare's allowance here and she gets the vote with the likelihood of a bigger price being available. The Irish challenge is not as strong as it has been in past seasons but Brave Inca, whose unbeaten run extends to six, does look to be a most progressive rival and, along with Mariah Rollins, will go very close if they take to the hustle and bustle of racing around Prestbury Park. Cardenas also merits plenty of respect as this much-travelled five-year-old really caught the eye on his solitary start on these shores when winning at Newbury last December. However, he needs to improve on that effort and may find a few of these too tough to overhaul as they come up the hill. Albuhera, for on one, knows exactly what is required to get home as they face that steep climb and will be very hard to master if he runs to form. However, Perle De Puce has already taken his measure once this season and, if she sorts her jumping out at an early stage, she may have enough in the locker to dish out a repeat dose today.
