tracked leader who went clear after 1st, lost 2nd at 4th, reminder after 3 out, went 2nd again home turn, pushed along and four lengths down 2 out, plugged on but no chance with winner
wore hood to post, raced keenly, held up in 4th, good headway tracking leader 4th, led and still keen after 3 out, four lengths ahead 2 out, went further clear between last two, impressive
raced keenly, led and went clear after 1st, reduced lead 4th, headed after 3 out, lost 2nd home turn, weakened and in remote 3rd when bad mistake last
hit 1st, raced wide in rear, outpaced and struggling 3 out, went remote 4th before next
raced in 3rd on inside, weakened quickly before 2 out, behind and pulled up approaching 2 out
Last year’s winner Martello Sky boasts an excellent strike-rate and has found only one too good in both starts this season but that may be the case again today as LOVE ENVOI is difficult to oppose. A high-class novice last season, she beat a subsequent winner on her reappearance in a handicap here and is almost certainly better over this longer trip. Fautinette won all three starts when trained in France but was pulled up on her UK debut so has a bit to prove now and the other pair look to be well out of their depth.
Martello Sky 13-8fav (11-4) Held up and always last, not fluent 3rd and 8th, outpaced when hit 3 out, ridden and beaten when hit next, 2nd of 3, 11l behind Miranda (11-0) at Kempton 3m lst (1) sft in Nov.
Love Envoi (IRE) 6-4fav (11-10) Wore hood to post, led until 2nd, chased leader who went clear soon after, closer 3 out, led on bit turning in, shaken up between last two, stayed on run-in, reduced lead towards finish but always doing enough, won at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Playful Saint (10-10) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Ballycallan Fame (IRE) 50-1 (11-8) Led, mistake 5th, headed after 9th, weakened quickly before 3 out, 6th of 9, dist behind Rafferty's Return (11-11) at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Branson Missouri (IRE) 15-8fav (11-4) Midfield, headway to chase leaders 4 out, headway to lead 3 out, pulled clear with winner before 2 out, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Optimise Prime (11-13) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Fautinette (FR) 18-1 (10-7) Chased leaders on outside, hit 2nd and lost place, behind after next, pulled up before 4th, at Aintree 2m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
