slowly into stride, held up and made headway before 3 out, ridden and joined leaders before 2 out, kept on well after last, won on close home
tracked leaders, ridden and kept on after 3 out, weakened after 2 out, fell at last
prominent, joined and headed at 3 out, kept on after 2 out, weakened after last
prominent, ridden and kept on after 2 out, rallied and every chance after last hurdle, just held
prominent, headed before 3 out, made no impression
held up, ridden and kept on before 2 out, not reach leaders after final hurdle
hampered at start, held up and made headway after 3 out, kept on after 2 out, made no impression after last hurdle
NonRunner
MIRANDA won this last year, her second victory in two starts on the track, and later won a Grade 2 mares' hurdle at Doncaster. She's 7lb higher than a year ago but can retain her unbeaten track record. The front-running See The Sea completed a hat-trick in lower-grade handicaps before weakening quickly at Kempton while Progressive found Listed company too much for her at Ascot after winning a Chepstow handicap at this level. Voice Of Calm returned to form at Fakenham though this is a step-up in class as it is for Puffin Bay, whose Wincanton victory came in a Class 4 maiden.
Miranda (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Mid-division, pushed along home turn, went second 3 out, chased winner thereafter but no impression, kept on, 2nd of 7, 5 1/2l behind Molly Ollys Wishes (11-2) at Wetherby 2m lst (1) gs in Oct.
Will Victory (FR) 2-1 (11-5) Chased winner, raced keenly, mistake 9th, pecked 5 out, pushed along before 3 out, well held 2 out, last of 2, 37l behind Nikap (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Progressive 12-1 (10-2) Towards rear of mid-division, ridden and struggling before 3 out, never involved, tailed off and pulled up before last, at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) sft in Oct.
Voice Of Calm 4-1 (11-3) Close up in rear, headway to chase winner 2 out, ridden and kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Sorbet (10-11) at Fakenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Cotton End (IRE) 18-1 (12-2) Front mid-division, lost place and ridden home turn, soon beaten and stayed on one pace, 7th of 10, 12 1/2l behind Molliana (10-13) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (4) gf in Nov.
Puffin Bay 8-11fav (11-4) Raced keenly early, raced handy, ridden before 2 out, took lead 2 out, stayed on strongly, always doing enough, won at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (4) gd in Nov beating Cool Stone (11-4) by 1l, 8 ran.
Marta Des Mottes (FR) 22-1 (11-6) Raced in mid-division, ridden after 2 out and kept on, ran on well after last, not reach leader, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Volkovka (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
See The Sea (IRE) 16-5 (11-12) Led, clear with two others 3 out(usual 4th)ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened next, 5th of 7, 27l behind Timberman (11-1) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.