took keen hold, tracked leaders, effort under pressure, wide outside between last 2, weakend before last
wandered at some hurdles, led, headed and weakend 3 out, tailed off
tracked leader, lead 3 out, mistake next and soon cleared, strongly pressed run-in, held on, all out
held up in touch, ridden and no impression before 2 out
took keen hold, held up in rear, struggling from 3 out
held up in rear, headway after 2 out, chased leading pair before last, one pace
In touch, ridden 5th, soon struggling, no chance when mistake last
tracked leader, not fluent 3rd, chased winner, under pressure before last, strong challenge run-in, just held
This is not the strongest handicap hurdle and top weight Bonnet's Pieces should be good enough to land this prize from Viva Forever and A Double Ewe Bee. Pam Sly's mare came down at Catterick last time, but had previously shown much improved form. Her close up third behind Lady Zephyr at Towcester in November is as good as any other form on show and a repeat of that effort would be good enough against these. Viva Forever chased home Honey's Gift in a similar race to this at Fontwell last time and any more rain will certainly help her cause. A Double Ewe Bee took a modest seller on her hurdles debut and gets in here on a very fair mark. With improvement expected she should take a hand in the finish. Suspicious Minds appears best of the remainder, but, in a race that will not take too much winning Bonnet's Pieces is a confident choice