held up in rear, headway 4f out, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear on outside, headway 4f out, not clear run over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear on inside, headway 4f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, 2nd over 5f out, led 3f out, headed over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
chased leader until over 5f out, weakened 3f out
held up towards rear, headway 5f out, 2nd and edged left over 2f out, soon led, edged left 1f out, stayed on well
chased leaders, 3rd when rider dropped whip 2f out, switched right and 2nd over 1f out, no impression on winner
led, clear for 3f, edged left on stable bend over 11f out and again soon after, headed 3f out, weakened 2f out
The four-year-old filly Kestrel Valley gets plenty of allowances and will have benefited from last month's run at Hereford where she went well for a long way. Brushed Up was totally unfancied when scoring on merit here last month. She has a smart pedigree and there's no reason why she shouldn't make a bold bid to defy her penalty. Sea Story started favourite for that event but jinked and unseated her rider very early in the race so is difficult to evaluate. Cheeky Chica had no answer to the odds-on French Crusader at Huntingdon but it was a pleasing debut and she'll have come on a bundle for the experience. Nicky Henderson has been firing the winners in and SIMONIA can make a successful debut. She's a half-sister to four winners, including the high-class Simonsig, and all of the quartet won bumpers, as did her dam.
Brushed Up 40-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway over 3f out, went 2nd over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, won at Ludlow 2m (4) gs in Dec beating Lilliput Lane (10-12) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Angel Moon Fair Mix filly out of Pougatcheva.
Cheeky Chica (IRE) 13-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders on inside, led over 3f out, soon headed, led again over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no impression on winner, kept on, 2nd of 9, 2l behind French Crusader (11-4) at Huntingdon 1m 6f mdn (6) gs in Nov.
Lady Of The Night Midnight Legend filly out of Even Flo.
R Bren (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, badly hampered after 2f, weakened over 5f out, 7th of 10, dist behind Dramatic Pause (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (6) hvy in Dec.
Sea Story 5-2fav (10-12) Led, jinked and unseated rider after about 3f, at Ludlow 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Simonia (IRE) Yeats filly out of Dusty Too.
Kestrel Valley 25-1 (10-7) Raced keenly, led 3f, tracked leader, driven and lost place inside final 2f, no extra, 5th of 10, 6 1/2l behind Apres Le Deluge (11-0) at Hereford 2m (5) sft in Dec.
Pedulia Alba (FR) 13-2 (10-9) Chased leaders, 2nd 6f out until over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, 7th of 11, dist behind Rose Of Cimarron (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m (6) gs in Jun.
Sally Can't Wait Sulamani filly out of Kate Hill Dancer.
The Imitation Game 50-1 (10-7) Chased leaders on outside, edged left 3f out, soon weakened, 10th of 11, 26 3/4l behind Lady Mix (10-7) at Newbury 2m (5) sft in Mar.
