held up in touch, ridden and weakened after 5th, struggling when stumbled badly next, soon pulled up
raced keenly, led, clear after 2nd, tried to run out on paddock bend after 4th, headed 2 out, stayed on same pace
held up, steady headway approaching 5th, weakened next, went moderate 4th run-in
held up in last trio, headway chasing leaders 4th, went 3rd under pressure on outside before 2 out, kept on same pace and no chance with leading duo
in touch, dropped to rear 3rd, tailed off 5th
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, moderate 4th before next, until run-in
raced keenly, tracked leader until 3rd, chased leaders until pushed along and weakened before 2 out
tracked leading pair, blundered 4th, 2nd 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, in command when hit last, comfortably
Definitely Better has been in good form lately but she's never won over 2m and is probably a shade high in the weights again now. THE MISSUS (NAP) was given a positive ride by Richard Johnson at Chepstow and never looked like being reeled in. Sam Waley-Cohen will have Warren Greatrex' mare up with the pace again today and she can repeat the trick. Dainty Diva was beaten in a seller at Exeter last month while Ayla's Emperor is proving hard to predict and steps up a grade for this. Midnight Sapphire was racing over much further last year and hasn't been seen since November.
Sureness (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Towards rear, not fluent, headway 9th, mistakes 10th and 4 out, weakened before next, pulled up before last, at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
The Missus 15-8 (10-12) Made all, clear after 1st, kept on strongly, unchallenged, won at Chepstow 2m (4) gd in Mar beating Goldray (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Midnight Sapphire 6-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, outpaced 6th, well behind from next, pulled up after, at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Giveagirlachance (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 11th of 13, 7 3/4l behind Master Burbidge (9-1) at Kempton 2m hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Dainty Diva (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Held up off the pace in 4th, went 2nd before 3 out, no chance with easy winner but clear 2nd, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Mother Meldrum (10-13) at Exeter 2m 3f (5) hvy in Mar.
Definitely Better (IRE) 2-1fav (11-2) In touch, headway approaching 7th, chased leaders next, every chance from 2 out, stayed on strongly towards finish, just failed, 2nd of 9, shd behind Magic Money (11-12) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Ice Tres 20-1 (11-0) Prominent, went 2nd 6th until ridden approaching 2 out, one pace from last, 6th of 17, 13 3/4l behind Canadian Diamond (11-12) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Ayla's Emperor 8-1 (11-8) Mid-division, steady headway approaching 3 out, 4th and one pace before next, went 3rd before the last, kept on, 3rd of 11, 7 3/4l behind Kayf Charmer (10-3) at Chepstow 2m hcp (5) gd in Mar.
