led, mistake 6th, headed 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders, no impression from 2 out
in rear, headway before 3 out, jumped left 2 out, soon weakened
towards rear, ridden and weakened before 3 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened before 2 out
tracked leader, weakened before 3 out
held up mid-division, mistake 3rd, pushed along after 4 out, ridden and weakened before 3 out
mid-division, headway before 4 out, led 2 out, clear before last, readily
THE PIRATE'S QUEEN looks the one to beat. Narrowly beaten in Listed company last season, Alan King's mare returned to action with a third in a Grade 2 event at Chepstow and should be opening her account over hurdles in this. Millie Milan and Balmusette have both won bumpers but struggled on their respective hurdling debuts and it remains to be seen how Fire Tower takes to jumping. Faerie Reel makes more appeal on her four length defeat at Uttoxeter last month and can figure.
Balmusette 4-1 (11-5) Led, headed when not fluent 3 out, weakened before next, 11th of 15, 35l behind Taniokey (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m mares mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct.
Faerie Reel (FR) 25-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, hampered 1st, not fluent 3rd, headway on inside when not much room 6th, disputing 2nd when mistake last, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 15, 4l behind Taniokey (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m mares mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct.
Fire Tower 10-3fav (11-5) Held up in touch, took keen hold, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 15, 11l behind Lady Of Longstone (10-9) at Worcester 2m mares n h flat (6) gd in Jun.
Harriet's Ark 100-1 (10-6) Always well in rear, tailed off from 4 out, 10th of 12, well behind Kings Bandit (11-11) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Minnie Milan (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 13, 36l behind Gabriella Rose (11-0) at Towcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd.
Rose Pageant 12-1 (10-12) Held up behind, outpaced over 4f out, never dangerous, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Ballyhollow (10-12) at Towcester 2m mares n h flat (6) sft in Dec.
Solstice Dawn 50-1 (9-12) Always behind, 11th of 12, well behind Ordo Ab Chao (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
The Pirate's Queen (IRE) 7-2 (10-7) Held up mid-division, headway 5 out, chsed winner from 4 out until ridden last, no extra, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Blaklion (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Oct.
