held up in rear, not fluent 6th or 7th, headway when badly hampered 3 out, not recover
led to 6th, hampered 3 out, no impression after
in touch, lost place 6th, struggling in rear next
held up in rear, not fluent early, headway when slightly hampered 3 out, led 2 out, driven flat, stayed on dourly
held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, mistake 3 out, no impression on leaders after
pressed leader to after 3rd, remained handy, mistake 7th, ridden when hampered 3 out, led before 2 out, headed 2 out, no extra flat
always prominent, went 2nd after 3rd, led 6th until after next, left in lead 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, still challenging flat, held towards finish
in touch, lost place 5th, last and pushed along 7th, tailed off
mid-division, headway approaching 6th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway on inside approaching 5th, led after 7th until fell 3 out
Dual point-to-point winner Misstree Dancer has run creditably in all three starts under rules but looks booked for a place at best behind QUEEN POLINE, who can follow up her recent Warwick success and she gets the vote with Little George rated the best of the rest. The selection won her first two starts in bumpers and showed improved form on her third start over timber when landing that Warwick race by five lengths from Silver Kate; a reproduction of that level of form should see her win again. Tim Vaughan's Holoko Heights made a pleasing start to his hurdling career when successful at Southwell in November but he disappointed on a return visit there last month and looks best watched now. The Venetia Williams-trained Pliny was brought down on his reappearance at Fontwell and has to be considered having shown useful form prior to that. Oscar Prairie is having only his second start for Warren Greatrex but has yet to prove that he handles ground as testing as this, even having previously been trained in Ireland. Alan King's runners are beginning to fire now so Little George is likely to do better than in his previous run this term at Taunton last month but Queen Poline is the clear form pick and looks the one to beat.
Holoko Heights 7-2 (11-2) Held up towards rear, hit 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before last, in a race won by Robo (10-4) at Southwell 2m 4f cond nov hdl 4yo+ (4) gd in Dec, 14 ran.
Busy Times (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway in moderate 6th 4f out, ridden in 7th and no impression 3f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 15, 14l behind Red Hot Poker (12-0) at Kilbeggan 2m 3f N H flat gs in May.
Handtheprizeover 20-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, jumped left 3rd, headway 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 11, 29l behind Aohna (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m NH mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Little George (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, held up mid-division, headway, in touch 7th, outpaced 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 9, 37l behind Valentine Vic (10-12) at Taunton 3m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Oscar Prairie (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace, no impression, 4th of 16, 12l behind Wishfull Thinking (11-0) at Hereford 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Pliny (IRE) 5-2fav (10-9) Held up, brought down 4th, in a race won by Dot's Delight (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f cond nov hdl 4yo+ (4) gs in Nov, 15 ran.
Queen Poline (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Always prominent, led after 5th, hit 3 out, stayed on well from 2 out, won at Warwick 2m 5f mares NH nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Silver Kate (11-12) by 5l, 11 ran.
Raphiell (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Rcd 3rd/4th, chall to go 2nd 2out, 12l down & lft ld last, ko,, won at Tinahely 3m ire ptp gd in Oct beating In The Family (11-7) by 9l, 13 ran.
Rey Nacarado (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Close up, mistake 5th, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 11, 25l behind Stoney's Treasure (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) sft.
Misstree Dancer 9-1 (10-10) Held up, headway from 3 out to chase leaders before next, stayed on into 3rd after last but never any chance with front pair, 3rd of 14, 12l behind Asturienne (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
