made all, soon clear, unchallenged
held up in last, jumped left at times, not fluent 3rd, went 2nd before 5th until approaching 2 out, soon weakened
not fluent, last pair, pushed along 5th, went 2nd before 2 out, no chance with winner
chased winner until before 5th, soon weakened, tailed off
Hey Frankie was third on his debut over hurdles at Worcester but a drop in trip may not necessarily be in her favour and it’s difficult to look beyond GENTLE CONNECTIONS. Dan Skelton’s mare carries a double penalty but has won very easily at Hexham and Southwell since finishing sixth in a Grade 2 at Newbury.
Gentle Connections 10-11fav (11-7) Prominent, pressed leader after 2 out, led home turn, ridden before last, soon clear and stayed on strongly, readily, won at Hexham 2m (4) gs in May beating Noble Affair (11-0) by 8l, 6 ran.
Haloa Mail (FR) 33-1 (11-4) Unruly at the start, raced in last, some headway before 2 out, never dangerous, 6th of 13, 29l behind Kalma (10-10) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Apr.
Hey Frankie (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd briefly before 2nd, outpaced 3 out, well held after, plugged on before last, went modest 3rd flat, 3rd of 7, 14 1/2l behind Peerless Beauty (11-2) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in May.
Regal 'n Bold 100-1 (10-13) Towards rear, last when not fluent 6th, soon lost touch, tailed off from 4 out, soon pulled up, at Chepstow 3m (4) gd in Apr.