held up, headway 5th, led approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, no chance with winner
behind, headway approaching 4 out, led after next, soon headed, led again approaching last, stayed on well flat
headway 4 out, one pace from next
held up, headway 5th, not fluent 2 out, one pace from next
held up in rear, some headway 4 out, never nearer
in rear, mistake 5th, never dangerous
prominent, led and mistake 5th, weakening when headed and fell next
chased leader, ridden 4th, soon behind
headway approaching 5th, one pace from next
prominent, weakened from 4th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
prominent until ridden and weakened after 4th
weakened from 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
soon tailed off, mistake 4th, pulled up before 2 out
behind, headway 4 out, weakened from next
prominent until ridden and weakened from 4th
raced keen, led, soon clear, headed and weakened rapidly approaching 5th, tailed off
As with many races of this nature, a host of these have been frustrating horses to follow and there is more than a cautionary point to be raised with regard to their temperament. None other fits that profile more than Lady Ward, who has consistently found a few too good since her hurdles debut at Hereford last April. Dame Fonteyn is another who has promised more than she has delivered in her previous outings and is opposable off topweight today. Whereas Mrs Pickles, who is an effective weight-carrier, makes limited appeal on this drop back in trip. Dorset Fern and Leith Hill Star have claims on the pick of their form but may have to settle for a minor role if Bella Mary can build on the promise of her two most recent runs. The Derrlyn mare showed a good attitude when she came under pressure at Southwell last month and a repeat of that sort of showing will make her hard to beat in this moderate company.
