held up in touch on outside, headway into 3rd after 5th, driven and lost place 3 out, soon ridden, no impression when went left next, weakened after last
in touch, lost place 5th, struggling in rear after next, tailed off
tracked leaders, challenged turning in, jumped left from 3 out, led 2 out, ridden clear and continued to edge left after last, kept on well
with leader, led 2nd, not fluent next, ridden after 3 out, headed next, one pace when mistake last, no impression in 3rd flat
held up towards rear, tracked leaders before 7th, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression
held up behind, pushed along before 4 out, ridden after next, never on terms, weakened after last
held up in touch on inside, driven to chase leaders before 3 out, switched left and one pace before next, ridden and stayed on into 2nd after last, no impression with winner
led to 2nd, pressed leader, driven and lost place turning in, soon weakened
Drinks Interval is better over fences and broke a blood vessel when tailed off second at Newbury in December though she'd run well over hurdles at Ascot earlier. Her stable companion Dinos Benefit has been badly out of form but Getaway Totherock gained a comfortable victory over the track and trip before finding heavy ground against her at Newbury where she wasn't beaten far. Liberty Bella won over the course and distance just over a year ago and has been competing in stronger company but ORIENTAL CROSS looks set for a hat-trick. Raised 9lb for an easy victory at Southwell, she stepped up in class to land one of these races at Sandown and providing the ground doesn't dry out she can defy another 5lb rise. Hotter Than Hell made a winning hurdles debut at Worcester last May and could have a bit more to offer on her handicap debut.
Drinks Interval 7-1 (10-12) Tracked leading pair, not fluent 4th, lost 3rd 10th, ridden and outpaced after 13th, left remote 2nd at the last, bled from the nose, 2nd of 4, dist behind Magic Of Light (11-2) at Newbury 2m 7f lst (1) sft in Dec.
Dinos Benefit (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, pushed along going out on last circuit, weakened soon after 3 out, 7th of 8, 30 1/4l behind Kansas City Chief (10-13) at Taunton 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Getaway Totherock (IRE) 3-1 (11-6) Raced keenly in mid-division, headway chasing leaders after 6th, hanging left when hit 2 out, every chance when hit last, hung left and stayed on same pace run-in, 4th of 10, 2l behind Bond's Lover (11-0) at Newbury 2m 5f (4) hvy in Jan.
Liberty Bella 20-1 (11-0) Pressed leader, hit 5th, led 6th until after 7th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, last of 6, 25l behind Magic Of Light (11-6) at Ascot 3m (1) hvy in Jan.
Bonza Girl 13-2 (11-11) Raced wide, just about in touch, behind and struggling 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Oriental Cross (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) In touch, dropped to mid-division after 3rd, headway after 3 out, close up on outside next, led narrowly last, ridden and kept on flat, all out, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Deputy's Oscar (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Hotter Than Hell (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, not always fluent, headway 7th, mistake 2 out, never on terms with leaders, 5th of 12, 7 1/2l behind Winter Getaway (11-4) at Warwick 2m 5f (4) sft in Nov.
The Kings Baby (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 8th of 13, dist behind Oriental Cross (11-1) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
