took keen hold, soon tracking winner, not fluent 6th, hit 8th, and 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, driven and held when lost 2nd narrowly between last 2, stayed on same pace from last
held up tracking leading trio, went 3nd 4 out, not fluent and dropped to 4th next, weakened under pressure soon after
took keen hold, always in rear, no chance from 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before last
led, ridden and in command between last 2, 3 lengths ahead when went left and blundered last, soon pressed, edged left and stayed on under pressure flat, held on gamely
soon settled in 3rd tracking clear leading pair, pushed along approaching 8th, lost 3rd 4 out, went 3rd again next, closed and disputing 2nd 2 out, narrow 2nd under pressure between last 2, hit last, stayed on flat, always held
Weather Babe has won three of her four starts over hurdles so far and the Pipe string is in fine form. She is well worth a try in this higher grade while Ma Filleule won a Grade 2 at Warwick in February and was also second in a Listed contest at Cheltenham in April. This is her first try over 3m, however, though it should be within her range. Tweedledrum definitely stays and has already won over course and distance, though she was well beaten on her reappearance at Cheltenham and has a penalty to carry. HIGHLAND RETREAT won a well-contested handicap at Wincanton on her return and looks to have improved over the summer. Wincanton fourth Utopie Des Bordes was only beaten half-a-length in a Grade 3 at Haydock on Saturday so the form looks solid and Harry Fry's mare can double her seasonal tally.
Ma Filleule (FR) 5-4fav (11-3) Always prominent, ridden and every chance approaching last, stayed on flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Doyly Carte (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f mares listed nov hdl (1) gs in Apr.
Tweedledrum 16-1 (9-12) Always behind, 18th of 20, 48l behind Trackmate (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Definitely Glad (IRE) 18-1 (10-13) Led, mistake and headed 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, in a race won by Rosie Probert (11-5) at Stratford 2m (3) sft in Oct, 11 ran.
Highland Retreat 13-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, soon challenged, led narrowly approaching next, ridden and held on well under pressure flat, won at Wincanton 2m 6f mrs hcp hdl (2) gs beating Mrs Peachey (10-12) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Weather Babe 4-1 (10-13) Prominent, went 2nd after 3rd, led 6th, made rest, prssed when not fluent last, stayed on to assert flat, won at Taunton 2m 3f mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd beating Pass The Time (11-2) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
