tracked leaders, not fluent 8th, ridden after 3 out, not clear run and switched left before not fluent 2 out, squeezed through to lead when jumped right and bumped from behind last, driven clear, stayed on well
held up in 4th, last and ridden 9th, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
tracked leader, led 4th, mistake 7th, headed before next, every chance 2 out, one pace flat
took keen hold, jumped left at times, led until mistake 4th, led before 8th, headed 2 out, hampered last, no impression on winner flat, stayed on same pace
held up in last, headway 9th, went 2nd after 3 out, led 2 out, headed and hampered last, no extra flat
Nonrunner
Mistral Reine returned an easy winner of a novices' handicap at Fakenham last month but she's been upped 7lb for that success and EMERALD ROSE is preferred. The latter has had a break and never figured in a Class 2 handicap at Wincanton last time but a repeat of her earlier second to Dark Spirit at Ludlow should see her come out best in this company. Maiden hurdle winner Hopstrings has a shout while Definite Lady has been placed on her last couple of outings but is facing a tougher task in this. Dewala has had just the three starts over timber and has more scope than the likes of Buxom, a winner at Huntingdon in November.
Emerald Rose 25-1 (10-0) Mid-division, reminders and lost place after 8th, no danger after, 10th of 13, 35l behind Highland Retreat (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 6f mrs hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Buxom (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Led to 5th, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 27l behind Lily Waugh (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs.
Belle De Fontenay (FR) 9-1 (11-0) Led until before 2nd, hit 4th, weakened 4 out, behind when hampered 2 out, 6th of 9, well behind Scotsbrook Legend (10-4) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Dewala 11-2 (11-2) Took keen hold tracking leaders in 4th, went 3rd appoaching 3 out, one pace and no impression next, 3rd of 12, 20l behind Nesterenko (11-11) at Doncaster 2m nov hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Dream Mistress 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, awkward 5th, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Cloudante (11-6) at Catterick 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Mistral Reine 6-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, led soon after 3 out, clear approaching last, eased flat, won at Fakenham 2m 7f nov hcp 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb beating Curtain Razer (11-12) by 18l, 5 ran.
Hopstrings 9-2 (11-11) Unseated rider and loose before start, led in start, raced wide chasing leaders, pushed along and lost place before 5th, reminders and struggling soon after, tailed off and pulled up before 8th, in a race won by Cruising Bye (10-6) at Exeter 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Oct, 7 ran.
Definite Lady (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, challenged before 3 out, kept on and every chance until ridden and no extra flat, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Millers Reef (11-7) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
