Track and trip look ideal for SNOW LEOPARDESS (NAP) but this trip is probably beyond the best of most of her rivals. Charlie Longsdon’s grey made Canelo pull out all the stops in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day having earlier won a competitive handicap at Haydock. Midnightreferendum was third in one of these over 2m4f at Doncaster last time but beaten a long way and, like Pink Legend, will have stamina to prove. Both, however, were ahead of Legends Gold at Warwick in December.
Early Morning Rain (FR) 11-1 (11-0) Led until before 1st where jumped slowly, slow again 2nd and 3rd, soon in rear, went 4th from 11th, weakened before 4 out, left 3rd 3 out, 3rd of 5, dist behind Momella (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 4f (3) sft in Dec.
Midnightreferendum 5-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, progress into midfield 9th, ridden and hampered by faller 3 out, stayed on under pressure 2 out, one pace from last, 3rd of 7, 24 1/2l behind Annie Mc (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 5f lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Molly Carew 10-3fav (11-0) Raced keenly, prominent, led bypassing omitted 5th, made rest, stayed on well, won at Taunton 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Whatsdastory (11-11) by 2l, 10 ran.
Pink Legend 5-2 (11-6) Chased leader until 6th, last 8th, not fluent 11th, went 3rd 3 out, went 2nd before last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 4, 7 1/2l behind Lust For Glory (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 3f (4) hvy in Jan.
Sheneededtherun (IRE) 28-1 (11-5) Toward rear and ridden patiently, headway to dispute 3rd 5 out, niggled along after 5 out, staying on 4 out, ridden and tiring 3 out, kept going and left disputing 2nd 2 out, headed run-in and left 3rd, 3rd of 11, dist behind Perfect Candidate (11-11) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Legends Gold (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, headway 10th, outpaced before 11th, well beaten from next, 5th of 7, 35 3/4l behind Zambella (11-5) at Warwick 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Dec.
Snow Leopardess 10-3fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 5 out, left in lead 4 out, ridden and joined 2 out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Canelo (11-6) at Wetherby 3m hcp (1) sft in Dec.