with leader, led 7th, headed after 8th, ridden 3 out, weakened
tracked leaders, led after 8th, ridden 3 out, challenged 2 out, ridden out
held up and keen, headway after 8th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened after 2 out
led, hit 5th, headed 7th, weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, ridden after 4 out, weakening when jumped left 3 out
held up, headway after 4 out, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, soon held, kept on
in touch and keen, ridden 3 out, one pace
held up, headway after 8th, chased winner 3 out, close up 2 out, one pace
Nonrunner
Sovietica is selected but Letham Island looks interesting. Magical Legend looks sure to be in the mix but always seems to find a couple too good. Lady Racquet ran well in a similar heat at Newbury last time and is feared on that evidence, Phardessa and Nakoma should benefit from stepping back up in trip and it's possible that Brousse En Feux may improve for it. Sovietica was outclassed last time but she landed a valuable pot at Kempton prior to that and the combination of this track and trip should play to her strengths. Mick Fitzgerald has ridden her three times, winning twice and finishing second so his booking has to be taken as a positive and she should go close. Letham Island was undoubtedly flattered to finish 12 lengths in front of Five Dream on her hurdling bow at Cheltenham but that was still a fair effort in a warm race. She didn't need to improve on that form to win next time but did everything that was required from her and may be well enough handicapped to have a decent crack at this prize. However, she's since been well beaten on the level and, with stamina and ground concerns to allay as well, the solid claims of Sovietica win her the vote.
Sovietica (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Raced keenly and tracked winner, lost place 4 out, soon beaten, 8th of 9, 41l behind Labelthou (11-5) at Ascot 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Magical Legend 14-1 (11-4) Lost touch 6th and pulled up 3 out in race won by Nycteos (11-5) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Brousse En Feux (FR) 15-2 (11-5) Mid-division, headway after 3rd, went 2nd 5th until after 3 out, weakened last, 4th of 15, 13l behind El Zorro (10-12) at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Purple Patch 25-1 (11-2) Led, driven and headed approaching 3 out, soon one pace, 4th of 17, 18l behind Irish Legend (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Lady Racquet (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Held up behind, headway after 7th, ridden in close 5th 2 out, kept on run-in, took 3rd final stride, 3rd of 11, 9l behind Pyleigh Lady (11-5) at Newbury 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Phardessa 4-1 (11-3) Held up and behind, hampered 3rd, headway 5th, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 15, 16l behind El Zorro (10-12) at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Letham Island (IRE) 2-1 (10-10) Tracked leader throughout, led 2 out, ridden out, won at Hereford 2m 1f fll hdl (4) gd in Nov beating Driving Miss Suzie (10-10) by 5l, 9 ran.
Joli Classical (IRE) 66-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway 9th, stayed on from 2 out, not reach leaders, 4th of 15, 16l behind Commander Vic (11-1) at Taunton 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Nakoma (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) In touch, effort 3 out, chased winner flat, one pace, 2nd of 18, 2l behind Chinara (11-0) at Ludlow 2m mrs hcp hdl (4) gd in Jan.
