held up, headway 3rd, led 5th, ridden and headed after 2 out, not quicken flat
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, 4th and weakening when fell 2 out
in touch, hit 4th, soon lost place, behind when mistake 7th and 4 out
led to 5th, every chance 3 out, outpaced 2 out, stayed on after last, edged right and one pace towards finish
prominent, hit 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, led after 2 out, mistake last, driven out
Little Venus, Novacella and Lojo are the shortlisted trio and Little Venus is taken to follow up a good win last time. Lojo has a lot to prove at the weights here as she is not favourably treated, but she ran well to beat a subsequent winner over hurdles two outings ago before finishing third in a handicap chase. Both those efforts were in sellers but she can reach a place at a nice price. Novacella scored at Warwick in March and shaped well in subsequent outings last season without winning. She was sent off favourite at Fontwell on her fencing debut last time but finished only second. She will come on for that, her first run of the season, but may find one too good. Placed in novice hurdles, Little Venus made no mistake at Towcester on her seasonal re-appearance and now tackles the bigger obstacles. Sure to have been well schooled by Henry Daly she has every chance of making a winning chase debut. Little Venus can score again.
Dalriath 5-1 (10-8) Led 2nd, headed next, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 7, 29l behind Gipsy Cricketer (10-9) at Fakenham 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd.
Little Venus (IRE) 11-8fav (10-10) Close up, led 2 out, saddle slipped, hung left and kept on well, won at Towcester 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Oct beating Ar Nos Na Gaoithe (11-2) by 5l, 15 ran.
Miss Pebbles (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway after 5th, effort approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 27l behind Dusky Lord (11-2) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Novacella (FR) 8-13fav (10-12) Led, headed soon after 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Ma Furie (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f mrs nov chs (4) gd.
Desert Secrets (IRE) 40-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, chased leaders 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 13, 19l behind Mahogany Blaze (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 4yo hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Lojo 9-2 (10-0) Behind, headway after 10th, ridden 2 out, one pace last, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Moss Bawn (11-7) at Hereford 2m 3f sll hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Sept.
Glitter Ice 125-1 (10-7) Always behind, 5th of 6, well behind Fier Normand (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gf in Oct.
