led, headed 2 out, weakened rapidly and eased, tailed off and pulled up before last
held up in 5th, pushed along after 3 out, ridden, no response and weakened next, eased, tailed off and pulled up before last
confidently ridden, held up in last pair, smooth headway after 2 out, closed on leader before last, shaken up flat, quickened to lead final 100 yards, cleverly
tracked leader, led 2 out, pushed clear well before last, looked likely winner until headed and outpaced final 100 yards
chased leading pair, 2nd 2 out, outpaced well before last, soon lost moderate 3rd
held up in 4th, not fluent 3rd, 3rd and under pressure after 2 out, weakened into 5th and mistake last
held up in last pair, ridden and kept on into modest 3rd before last, no chance with front pair
CHOCOLAT can prove the icing on the cake though she will need to see off Itea du Fau and Lindy Lou. The handicapper has a tough job in this race as he has to equate the validity of French form versus that obtained on this side of the Channel. Chocolat started her career at Guillame Macaire's yard in France and won a race for those connections prior to joining Emma Lavelle. The trainer is a dab hand with the placing of her horses and it is to be hoped that she has got this assignment right. Itea De Feu has to be respected from the Alan King yard. She signed off her career in France by landing a Pau contest by a distance. Lindy Lou had bits and pieces of flat form for Chris Wall. She placed twice for Alan Fleming last term. Princess Flame was tried unsuccessfully under forcing tactics at Sandown last time out. Fontwell scorer, Where's Suzie, should be fit from the flat. A race that could throw up plenty of future winners and for today, Chocolat is the pick.
Chocolat (IRE) (11-2) 10th of 12, 12l behind Belle Josee (10-3) at Pau(FR) 2m 1f hdl sft in Dec.
Itea Du Fau (FR) (10-3) won at Pau(FR) 2m 1f hdl sft in Jan beating Chausey (10-1) by well, 10 ran.
Lindy Lou 8-15fav (10-12) Prominent, pressed winner approaching 3 out, held after 2 out, lost 2 places towards finish, 4th of 10, 16l behind Je Ne Sais Plus (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f mrs nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Princess Flame (GER) 25-1 (10-11) Led until fell 3 out, in a race won by Harry Tricker (11-5) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd, 11 ran.
Edgefour (IRE) 7-2 (10-6) Held up in 4th, led after 7th, headed 3 out, soon ridden and beaten, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Thehonourablelady (9-7) at Worcester 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Oct.
Where's Susie 13-8fav (10-7) Chased leaders, led after 3 out, wandered and went right last, driven clear flat, won at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr beating Alflora Dora (10-13) by 6l, 13 ran.
Shropshirelass 33-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 16, 13l behind Wise Men Say (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.