held up mid-division, headway approaching 7th, pushed along to chase leaders after 3 out, led approaching next, clear approaching last, ran on well
with leaders, ridden after 7th, soon weakened, pulled up before next
mid-division, took closer order 7th, ridden and weakened from 2 out
held up, headway 6th, reminders approaching 3 out, weakened after next
prominent, ridden along after 3 out, kept on from next
held up, pushed along from 6th, weakened from next
tracked leaders, ridden from 3 out, kept on from next, no impression
held up mid-division, headway to track leaders approaching 6th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up mid-division, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
with leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching next
led, headed approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened approaching next
in rear, headway approaching 7th, led 3 out, ridden and headed approaching next, kept on, no chance with winner
Ile Maurice, Fortuna Favente and Pont Neuf are the three to consider here, and Ile Maurice is taken to follow up a good win last time. Ile Maurice has shown progressive form on each of his three starts, and won in impressive fashion at Newcastle last time. He had earlier finished third behind Charlotte Vale, form which has since been franked. Fortuna Favente ran well to be third at Market Rasen nine months ago but her fitness has to be taken on trust on her hurdling bow. It's interesting to note that Graham Lee rides Pont Neuf rather than this Graham Wylie owned daughter of Supreme Leader. Pont Neuf ran respectably in a competitive Haydock contest last time and had earlier shown his liking for testing conditions when finishing a good second at Leicester. For the selection though, we return to Ile Maurice.
Ile Maurice (FR) 9-4fav (10-5) Mid-division, headway 7th, led approaching 2 out, clear approaching last, comfortably, won at Newcastle 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (E) hvy in Dec beating Sportula (10-12) by 13l, 15 ran.
Fortuna Favente (IRE) 13-8fav (11-0) Held up in touch, carried left over 4f out, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on, 3rd of 15, 7l behind Rosita Bay (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nhf (H) gd in Apr.
Our Joycey 40-1 (10-12) Held up, reminders and struggling 4th, no danger after, 10th of 16, well behind Vertical Bloom (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (D) gd in Dec.
Political Pendant 100-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, ridden and weakened from 3 out, 4th of 12, 16l behind Camden Bella (11-0) at Ayr 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) sft.
Pont Neuf (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Tracked leader, led 4th to 5th, weakened 3 out, mistake 2 out, 7th of 15, 37l behind Circassian (11-0) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (D) sft in Dec.
Zaffie Parson (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden over 5f out, weakened over 3f out, 9th of 19, 17l behind She's The Lady (11-0) at Wetherby 2m mrs nhf (H) gs in Nov.
Esquillon 50-1 (10-5) Chased leaders to 4th, soon behind, 8th of 17, 25l behind Gidam Gidam (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gf in Dec.
Verstone (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) Behind, effort 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up at the last in race won by Renada (9-12) at Newcastle 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
