tracked leader, led approaching when not fluent 8th, drew clear after 3 out, unextended
led until approaching 8th, soon rallied, weakened after 3 out, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, lost place 5th, soon pushed along, weakened before 5 out, moderate 4th
chased leaders, went 3rd at 5th, fell 5 out
in touch, left in 3rd at 5 out, headway 3 out, soon no impression, modest 3rd
Nonrunner
VIOLIN DAVIS was a decent hurdler and has taken well to the larger obstacles, winning her last two starts at Newbury and Bangor. She's giving 12lb to her rivals here but should be up to the task as most of them are out of form. Southway Star, a seven-times winner over hurdles, could be interesting if her jumping is up to scratch but Annimation and Shropshirelass have already been exposed as modest and neither Free falling nor Shantou Breeze have pulled up any trees lately.
Violin Davis (FR) 1-2fav (11-1) Made all, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, pressed last, driven out, won at Bangor 2m 4f mrs nov chs (5yo+) (4) hvy beating Tara Rose (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 4 ran.
Annimation (IRE) 7-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway before halfway to chase leaders in 3rd, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 7, 16l behind Natural Spring (10-7) at Lingfield 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.
Free Falling 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place before 7th, not fluent next, well beaten 3 out, 9th of 13, 37l behind Earcomesthedream (11-4) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.
Shantou Breeze (IRE) 66-1 (10-8) Tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 6l behind Border Station (10-11) at Lingfield 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.
Southway Star 25-1 (10-10) Mid-division, hard ridden after 3 out, soon no impression, 6th of 10, 17l behind Kentford Grey Lady (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f Mares Handicap Hurdle (0-135) (4yo+) (3) sft in Dec.
Shropshirelass 25-1 (10-6) Prominent, ridden after 2 out (normal 3 out), weakened approaching last, last of 8, 30l behind Wily Fox (11-12) at Folkestone 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Nov.