held up in rear but in touch, mistake 5th, soon ridden, weakened before 4 out
tracked leader, every chance 3 out, soon outpaced, kept on well under pressure approaching last, no chance with winner
held up in rear, but in touch, headway approaching 3 out, ridden to challenge next, weakened flat
tracked leader, led before 3 out, clear after next, eased closing stages
led, set very fast pace, driven when headed after 4 out, weakened quickly
chased leaders, under pressure 3 out, rallied before last, stayed on to go 3rd close home
Alan King's string is in fine form but Prettyasapicture was due to run yesterday at Taunton. She'd fallen at that track previously when going well in a race in which Queen Spud eventually finished second. Henry Daly's mare must have every chance here as she's twice finished second over track and trip, though off much lower marks than today's. Lochnell won a maiden hurdle at Ayr by eight lengths last month and also enters the equation but MAGGIE BLUE might be the one to beat if she handles the drop in trip. She easily beat Playhara over 3m at Ayr last month, when A Shade Of Bay was pulled up, and again finished well ahead of Martin Todhunter's five-year-old in better company at Haydock last time. Isabella Liberty is preferred to Hopstrings of the others.
Hopstrings 10-3 (11-12) In touch and in rear, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened, last of 4, 23l behind Ultra Light (10-7) at Bangor 3m mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gf in Jul.
Playhara (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Prominent, reminders before 7th, weakened before 3 out, 11th of 14, well behind Closing Ceremony (11-5) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Lochnell (IRE) 4-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, led 2 out, jumped left last, soon clear, won at Ayr 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov beating Danehills Well (10-11) by 8l, 13 ran.
A Shade Of Bay 15-8fav (11-0) Held up in touch, ridden before 7th, soon outpaced, blundered 3 out, never dangerous and pulled up, in a race won by Maggie Blue (9-13) at Ayr 3m mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Nov, 5 ran.
Maggie Blue (IRE) 15-2 (9-7) Close up in 2nd, led 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened before last, 8th of 14, 23l behind Closing Ceremony (11-5) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Isabella Liberty (FR) 7-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4th or 5th, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 8, 19l behind Announcement (10-8) at Leicester 2m hdle (4) hvy in Nov.
Prettyasapicture 5-4fav (10-11) In rear, headway before 2 out, going well and narrow 2nd when fell 2 out, in a race won by Cloudy Spirit (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f (4) gs in Nov, 5 ran.
Queen Spud 2-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, led 4th, headed 7th, outpaced before 2 out, chased winner from last, kept on well towards finish, always well held, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Cloudy Spirit (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f (4) gs in Nov.
