tracked winner, not fluent 2 out, rallied flat, no impression towards finish
took keen hold, made all, ridden approaching last, edged left flat, stayed on
tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, rallied to press for 2nd last, no impression flat
tracked leaders, raced alone on inside, jumped left and weakened 5th, tailed off
An interesting contest, despite the small field. Spice Girl has a good strike-rate and made a winning start over timber at Taunton, though never figured stepped up to this grade against the geldings at Cheltenham next time and has to carry a penalty. Arian has come up against useful rivals in her last two starts at Ffos Las while Samarayia only found one too good at Exeter last month and will have learnt plenty from the experience. KALOCI beat a consistent subsequent hurdles winner in a bumper at Fakenham in April and than ran well in a Listed contest at Huntingdon. She is tough and takes no prisoners and looks an ideal type for jumping being by successful NH sire Stowaway.
Arian (IRE) 5-4fav (10-5) Held up off the pace, not fluent 5th, headway approaching 3 out, challenging when mistake 2 out, no impression on winner last, no extra flat, 2nd of 9, 9l behind Angels Antics (10-5) at Ffos Las 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Kaloci (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Led 2f, stayed handy, ridden 3f out, stayed on same pace from over 2f out, 3rd of 11, 6 3/4l behind Duhallow Gesture (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m lst (1) gs in Dec.
Samarayia 8-1 (10-10) Soon tracking leader, lost 2nd after 4 out, 2nd again before next, led before 2 out, headed before last and 3 lengths down when blundered last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Drops Of Jupitor (10-10) at Exeter 2m 3f (4) sft in Dec.
Silk Run (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Always behind, ridden and weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind Ashkoul (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec.
Spice Girl 20-1 (10-11) Held up, jumped right, struggling 5th, mistake 3 out, well held from next, 6th of 8, 19 1/2l behind Western Ryder (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (3) sft in Dec.
