tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, kept on run-in
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened before 2 out
held up mid-division and keen, soon tracked leaders, led before last, kept on well
held up towards rear, ridden and weakened before 2 out
held up in rear and keen, headway before 3 out, switched left before last, kept on run-in
led, ridden and headed before last, lost 2nd briefly after last, kept on towards finish
held up in touch, pushed along and weakened before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden and hit last, kept on
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, chased winner briefly after last, no extra towards finish
Guardia Top is very tough and has won three of her eight hurdles races so far. She has only finished out of the frame once and is sure to give another good account, despite being upped in grade. Midnights' Gift won in this grade at Aintree in November when beating Fleursals, Ravenscar and Red Archangel. Fantastic Ms Fox unseated her rider when in touch that day and later won over this track and trip when beating Cuban Sun and Yauthym with Ravenscar and Red Archangel again unplaced. GALICE MACALO was still leading when falling at the last at Aintree and she meets the winner on 5lb better terms so can come out on top this time with a clear round.
Midnights' Gift 7-1 (10-8) Held up in 4th place, headway to challenge in 2nd and every chance 2 out, not pace of winner when hit last, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Marie's Rock (11-5) at Taunton 2m lst (1) sft in Dec.
Cuban Sun 10-1 (10-12) Bit keen, tracked leader, led 3 out, narrowly headed last, kept on but not pace of winner run-in, went 2nd near finish, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Fantastic Ms Fox (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 1f mdn fll (4) gs in Dec.
Fantastic Ms Fox 13-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 5th, pushed along approaching 2 out, switched right before last, quickened to lead run-in, soon clear, won at Doncaster 2m 1f mdn fll (4) gs in Dec beating Cuban Sun (10-12) by 3l, 13 ran.
Fleursals 25-1 (10-12) Prominent, ridden after 3 out, one pace from 2 out, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 14, 21 1/2l behind Midnights' Gift (10-12) at Aintree 2m 1f lst fll (1) gs in Dec.
Galice Macalo (FR) 11-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up in rear, headway after 3 out, led next, pressed when fell last, at Aintree 2m 1f lst fll (1) gs in Dec.
Guardia Top (FR) 9-4 (10-9) In front after 3rd, clear before 3 out, in 3rd place final 100 yards, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Daytime Ahead (10-4) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Ravenscar (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Towards rear, plugging on when mistake 2 out, kept on run-in, 5th of 13, 10 1/4l behind Fantastic Ms Fox (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 1f mdn fll (4) gs in Dec.
Red Archangel (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, effort on outside 3 out, hung left between last 2, weakened soon after, 6th of 13, 14 3/4l behind Fantastic Ms Fox (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 1f mdn fll (4) gs in Dec.
Yauthym (GER) 4-1 (10-12) Raced keenly in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 4 out, went 2nd after 2 out, led narrowly and blundered last, headed and not pace of winner run-in, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 13, 3 1/4l behind Fantastic Ms Fox (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 1f mdn fll (4) gs in Dec.
