soon led, saddle slipped and ran out 3rd
tracked leaders, mistakes 11th and 12th, weakened next, tailed off
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up lame before 4 out, dismounted
held up in touch, headway 12th, with leader 3 out, led next, pushed clear flat
left in lead 3rd, clear 5th, mistake 11th, ridden after 13th, headed when not fluent 2 out, one pace from next
Lirfox was a different class to these over hurdles, and cannot be opposed on her chasing debut, with Queen's Pageant the safest option for the forecast. Martin Pipe's six-year-old was a dual hurdle winner in France, and ran a super race when third in Grade 2 company at Aintree on only her second start for new connections. Beaten just a head at Ayr after that, her form stands out in this field and the fact that she is being sent over the larger obstacles so soon suggests she has been schooling well. Queen's Pageant, on the other hand, makes a somewhat belated attempt over fences at the age of nine, but was rated 106 over hurdles and if living up to that sort of mark should be good enough to chase the likely short-priced favourite home.
