in touch, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and hit 2 out, led run-in, driven out
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next
chased leaders, hit 4 out, ridden next, soon weakened
chased leader, led 3 out, soon ridden, hit last, headed run-in, no extra
held up, ridden approaching 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, no impression after
held up, struggling from 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, stayed on from next
held up towards rear, weakened approaching 4 out
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led, clear 4th, headed 3 out, soon weakened, blundered and unseated last
always behind
Dancing Pearl can defy topweight to land this for the second year running, with Norma Hill, Reseda and Dalriath out to stop her. Dancing Pearl has not added to her success here 12 months ago in eight starts since, but Cecil Price's mare chased home Bongo Fury here on her last start off a mark of 119 and as that was only her second outing of the year, she is entitled to improve. Bongo Fury also had her measure at Sandown on her return to the fray, and as Martin Pipe's mare has since finished a very creditable second to Essex in the Grade 3 totesport Trophy at Newbury, we can assume that the form is rock-solid. Dancing Pearl should now be spot-on for a repeat bid in the day's feature race and will take all the beating. Norma Hill ran really well on her handicap debut at Ludlow last time and is sure to be involved you would think, but her front-running style will leave her vulnerable. Reseda is on a retrieval mission after her last-flight fall at Lingfield where she was in with every chance, but is still novicey, as is Dalriath who to be fair, made a bold bid to make all when collared by Jockser at Huntingdon. Dancing Pearl has leading claims here though and is a confident choice.
Dancing Pearl 10-3jt-fav Always prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on same pace to go 2nd flat, not trouble winner, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Bongo Fury at Doncaster 2m mrs hcp hdl (B) gd in Jan.
Avitta (IRE) 16-1 Chased leaders until ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 10, 35l behind Island Sound at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Jan.
Reseda (GER) 11-8fav Chased leaders, ridden after 6th, headway 2 out, every chance when fell at the last in race won by Fille D'honfleur at Lingfield 2m mrs nov hdl (E) gs in Feb, 9 ran.
Norma Hill 13-2jt-fav Led to 6th, led again approaching 3 out, soon ridden, headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Cashel Dancer at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gs in Feb.
Farne Isle 9-2 Held up in rear, lost place approaching 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Getinbybutonlyjust at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) gs in Jan, 6 ran.
Calomeria 12-1 Led, to 3rd, remained close up, ridden and weakened 2 out, last of 6, 25l behind Akilak at Haydock 2m 4yo nov hdl (B) sft in Feb.
Baby Gee 33-1 In touch, pushed along after 4 out, effort 2 out, weakened last, 6th of 13, 29l behind Welsh Dream at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gd in Feb.
Dewasentah (IRE) 16-1 Tracked leaders, weakened 3 out, 8th of 13, well behind Marsh Run at Carlisle 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (D) sft in Feb.
Sunridge Fairy (IRE) 20-1 Held up, effort approaching 3 out, never dangerous, 9th of 18, 22l behind Ho Pang Yau at Wetherby 2m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gd in Apr.
Alfhala (IRE) 11-2 Held up in touch, improved 5th, led next, soon ridden, headed approaching last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Floreana at Fakenham 2m 4yo nov hdl (E) gf in Jan.
Dalriath 20-1 Led, soon clear, mistake 3 out, headed next, soon one pace, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Jockser at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Feb.
La Muette (IRE) 25-1 With leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened after 2 out, 10th of 12, well behind Polar Gunner at Uttoxeter 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (F) hvy in Dec.
