raced keenly, led until after 4th, weakened rapidly, tailed off 5th, pulled up after next
raced wide, in rear, some headway approaching 5th, weakened next, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out
tracked leader, led after 4th until next, chased winner, pushed along after 3 out, mistake and lost 2nd last, driven and one pace in 3rd run-in
held up in 5th place, headway tracking leading trio before 5th, not handle downhill run and pushed along before 2 out, disputing 2nd 2 out, 2nd and hit last, closed run-in, always held
held up in 4th place, tracked leading pair after 4th, ridden before 2 out, weakened 2 out, behind and eased run-in
took keen hold, tracked leading pair, went 2nd briefly and jumped right 4th, led next, clear 2 out, hard ridden run-in, all out
The Nipper is looking increasingly temperamental and looked beaten when falling on her hurdling debut at Wetherby. Though she has bags of potential if getting her act together, we’ll take her on here with PEGGIES VENTURE as Alan King’s mare also had some decent bumper form and looks far more straightforward. Like the selection, Naranja makes her hurdling debut but she also won a bumper and should now be cherry-ripe after a couple of outings. Phoeniciana has been placed twice at Towcester so won’t fail through lack of stamina but November’s course and distance winner Westerbee may struggle to give the weight away.
Westerbee (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Pulled hard, led, jumped left 2nd and soon clear, reduced lead 3 out, soon headed and weakened rapidly, tailed off when went left 2 out and last, 5th of 6, dist behind Coillte Lass (11-2) at Taunton 2m lst (1) gd in Dec.
Apalis (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, 2nd from 3rd until before 7th, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before next, at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) gs in Dec.
Naranja 5-2 (11-5) Close up, ridden and outpaced over 3f out, kept on to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Illwalktheline (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f (6) sft in Dec.
Phoeniciana 7-1 (10-5) Tracked leader, hampered 3rd, soon led, headed 3 out, led next, headed before last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Azzerti (10-12) at Towcester 2m mdn (5) gs in Dec.
Soiesauvage (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, some headway 3 out, no impression, plugged on, 6th of 14, 25 1/4l behind Templier (10-7) at Plumpton 2m (4) gs in Dec.
The Nipper (IRE) 4-6fav (10-12) Jumped right at times, led 2nd, ridden and edged left after 2 out, headed and beaten 3rd when fell last, at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) gs in Dec.
Peggies Venture 10-3fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, 2nd over 5f out, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on, just held close home, 2nd of 10, nk behind Oscar Rose (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m (1) gs in Dec.
The Golden Hour (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Led, headed 6f out, weakened over 3f out, last of 8, dist behind Lillian (10-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f (6) gd in Jun.
Spanish Queen 100-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, lost place after 5th, tailed off 3 out, last of 9, dist behind Rainbow Dreamer (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gd in Dec.
