tracked leaders, ridden before last, no extra and lost 3rd place towards finish
tracked winner, led before 2nd, headed before 2 out, one pace run-in
held up towards rear, took keen hold, weakened before 2 out, soon tailed off
led, headed 2nd, tracked leader, led before 2 out, kept on well from last
tracked leaders, weakened before 2 out
in rear, mistake 3rd, outpaced 4 out, kept on to take 3rd place towards finish
towards rear, headway 4 out on outer, challenged 2 out, soon chased winner, no impression
QUEEN OLIVIA ran well for second in a similar contest at Southwell in December. She can go one better in this given dual novice hurdle winner Retrieve The Stick was well beaten on her handicap debut at Sedgefield. It remains to be seen how Intent gets on now handicapping after a maiden win at Worcester while Grimley has been raised a further 3lb for finishing runner-up at Ludlow but should be in the mix. The remainder arrive out of form and are harder to fancy.
Queen Olivia 3-1 (11-5) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 2 out, ridden and no impression on winner last, one pace, 2nd of 3, 3l behind Faerie Reel (11-12) at Southwell 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Retrieve The Stick 11-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, headed 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 6th of 8, 26l behind Istimraar (9-11) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Intent 11-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, challenged going well 3 out, jumped left last 2, led flat, ridden out, won at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Sep beating Whatdoesthefoxsay (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Grimley Girl 9-2 (10-6) Always prominent, ridden and every chance 2 out, mistake last, one pace and no impression run-in, 2nd of 17, 7l behind Ascendant (11-7) at Ludlow 2m Am hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Mwangaza (FR) 15-2 (9-12) Mid-division, ridden and headway from 3 out, kept on, 6th of 11, 22l behind Uisge Beatha (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Jan.
Shirocco Passion 9-1 (10-5) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, lost place next, never near leaders, 8th of 14, 13l behind Notnowsam (10-12) at Catterick 2m 3yo hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Lindsay's Dream 14-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, plugged on from 2 out, never any threat, 6th of 11, 17l behind Deny (10-3) at Catterick 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Jan.