tracked leaders, went 2nd 2 out, stayed on same pace and no impression run-in
took keen hold, held up tracking leaders, closer at 3rd, pushed along in dispute of 3rd 4 out, weakened next
tracked leader, led before 3 out, clear when ridden before last, stayed on strongly and won with ears pricked
chased leading pair, pushed along and weakened before 4 out
sometimes jumped right, led, headed before 3 out where not fluent, chased winner, ridden and lost 2nd next, weakened between last 2
never going in rear, jumped right 5th, tailed off and pulled up after 12th
raced wide, held up in last pair, steady headway approaching 9th, pushed along in 5th before 4 out, went 3rd 2 out, never on terms with leading duo
This looks tricky but Tacenda jumped much better than Two Swallows and Surtee Du Berlais when scoring at Fontwell last month, though the latter would be the pick of the weights on hurdles form. Morello Royale ran easily her best race over the larger obstacles here last month while Ms Parfois makes a quick reappearance after picking off Theatre Territory in a handicap at Cheltenham on Friday. But she’d earlier finished nine lengths behind HAPPY DIVA (NAP) at Uttoxeter. Kerry Lee’s mare hammered Two Swallows over hurdles last season when conceding plenty of weight and looks ready to strike over fences. Uttoxeter winner Tara Mist will need to improve again to figure in this grade.
Happy Diva (IRE) Evensfav (10-12) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 10th, led next, jumped right final 4, clear 2 out, headed and no extra last 100 yards, 2nd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Sainte Ladylime (10-12) at Uttoxeter 3m (3) gs in Nov.
Morello Royale (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up in rear but in touch, headway after 3 out, kept on well after last, never able to challenge, 4th of 6, 6l behind La Bague Au Roi (11-2) at Kempton 3m lst (1) gs in Nov.
Ms Parfois (IRE) 9-2jfav (11-10) Always handy, 2nd 4 out, ridden after 3 out, led before jumping left last, wandered flat, stayed on, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Theatre Territory (11-12) by 1l, 9 ran.
Surtee Du Berlais (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, reminders after 10th, not fluent next, mistake 5 out, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 5, 33l behind Tacenda (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f (4) gd in Nov.
Tacenda (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 10th, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Benie Des Dieux (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Dec.
Tara Mist 4-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway 12th, challenged 2 out, led before jumping right last, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Timon's Tara (11-0) by 1l, 6 ran.
Two Swallows 11-8fav (11-0) Chased leaders, took closer order 10th, every chance after 3 out, kept on same pace closing stages, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Tacenda (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f (4) gd in Nov.
