held up in 4th off the pace, went 3rd after 3rd, closing in 2nd when left in lead 2 out, soon headed, stayed on same pace flat, no impression on winner
held up in last, not fluent 6th, weakened approaching 2 out
took keen hold, jumped left 1st, tracked leader, not fluent 6th, weakened approaching 2 out, left 4th last
led, clear on bend before 2 out, coming back to field when bad mistake 2 out, 4th and weakening when left 3rd and mistake last
held up in 5th off the pace, closed before 2 out, switched left after hurdle, ridden and about to challenge when fell last
tracked leader until after 1st, let front pair go clear before next, closed approaching 2 out, led soon after hurdle, stayed on, ridden out
Donald McCain has made hay with She Ranks Me this winter and the six-year-old has already won Listed contests at Newbury and Haydock. But she'll probably need to improve again to give weight to these. Twigline is an interesting runner from Willie Mullins' yard as she very unexposed and comfortably won at Fairyhouse on her hurdling debut but the vote goes to UTOPIE DES BORDES. Considering both the trip and ground were against her on her UK debut at Doncaster, Nicky Henderson's French import showed the right attitude to get the better of the useful Call Me A Star and has the beating of fifth Cracking Lass on that run. Successful in a Grade 1 chase over 2m6f on heavy ground at Auteuil in November, she'll be much more at home here. Toubeera should improve for her run at Huntingdon and is preferred to My Legal Lady of the others.
She Ranks Me (IRE) 85-40 (11-5) Tracked leader, led after last, soon clear, ran on strongly (4 hurdles omitted), won at Haydock 2m 4f mares Listed nov hdl (1) hvy in Dec beating Little Glenshee (11-0) by 5l, 6 ran.
Cracking Lass (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, kept on and no impression, 5th of 11, 11l behind Utopie Des Bordes (11-3) at Doncaster 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd.
My Legal Lady 10-3 (11-5) Always prominent, led approaching 3 out, clear when jumped left 2 out, soon edged right, went left again last, stayed on, won at Newton Abbot 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Sep beating Performance Review (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Toubeera 12-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, went 2nd after 7th until not fluent 3 out, weakened flat, 5th of 13, 19l behind Glorious Twelfth (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan.
Twigline (FR) 10-11fav (11-5) Waited with well off the pace in mid-division, closer in 6th 4 out, still travelling well tracking leaders early straight, quickly assumed command last, asserted run-in, easily, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Nov beating King Of The Refs (11-4) by 4l, 9 ran.
Utopie Des Bordes (FR) 4-11fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, led before last, stayed on well, won at Doncaster 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd beating Call Me A Star (11-9) by 2l, 11 ran.
