led from 2nd, made rest, driven out
held mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon chasing winner, one pace
held up towards rear, chased leaders 3 out, one pace from next
held up, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, weakened approaching 3 out
chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, headway 6th, in 7th and held when fell 2 out
held up, pushed along approaching 5th, soon detached
led to 2nd, chased leaders, weakened after 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4th, one pace from last
It may not have been the best race ever staged, but DREAM ESTEEM showed a fair bit of promise when scoring at Ffos Las on her hurdling introduction and she is taken to follow-up from Banjaxed Girl and Call At Midnight. The selection ran on well to score by five lengths at the Welsh track when an unfancied 16-1 shot, proving in the process that softer ground suits. Tony McCoy taking over for the mount from Tom Scudamore is hardly a negative and David Pipe's mare is taken to go in again. Banjaxed Girl has far more experience in this sphere and was an easy scorer at Uttoxeter on very testing ground a little over a week ago. There was nothing in that field of the potential of the selection, but she did it so well that she would have to be a very serious threat to our pick here. Call At Midnight was thrashed by Banjaxed Girl in a bumper at Warwick in November, but this softer ground will probably be a positive, and the yard are now going much better. She will be well schooled and looks primed for a good run, though she does still lack experience over timber and is taken on. Golden Button is rated around the 70 mark on the Flat and is an interesting debutant over hurdles who should stay this far, while there is definitely improvement in River Beauty from a top yard. Dream Esteem is suggested today.
Banjaxed Girl 1-3fav (10-7) Made all, drew clear from 2 out, unchallenged, won at Uttoxeter 2m mrs nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan beating Arabian Silk (10-0) by 17l, 7 ran.
Dream Esteem 16-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, headway approaching 3 out, led approaching next, driven out, won at Ffos Las 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Jan beating El Distintivo (11-4) by 5l, 13 ran.
Call At Midnight Evensfav (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway into mid-division 4f out, ridden and kept on same pace final 2f, never near leaders, 5th of 15, 13l behind Banjaxed Girl (10-12) at Warwick 2m N H flat (5) gd in Nov.
Cassia Rose 20-1 (11-2) Mid-division, lost place 5th, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 11, 29l behind Playing With Fire (10-13) at Leicester 2m mrs nov hdl (3) hvy in Jan.
Dancing Daffodil 250-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, weakened next, 13th of 14, well behind Cheshire Prince (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Golden Button (IRE) 7-2fav (8-5) Pulled hard, soon tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced over 4f out, rallied and kept on final furlong, never dangerous, 6th of 15, 17l behind Veiled Applause (8-6) at York 1m 2f app hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct (flat).
Hopeand 33-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, hit 4th, chased winner soon after 3 out, ridden and not fluent 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 11, 17l behind Sure Josie Sure (10-7) at Wincanton 2m mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Hydrophonic 25-1 (11-2) In touch, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 5th of 16, 27l behind Diklers Oscar (11-2) at Newcastle 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
La Columbina 125-1 (8-10) Mid-division, lost place over 2f out, no impression after, 8th of 10, 7l behind Chosen Forever (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan (flat).
Morello Mist 25-1 (10-11) In touch, pushed along and lost place 6f out, tailed off, 11th of 16, 46l behind Fairynuff (11-4) at Catterick 2m NH flat (5) gs in Dec.
Princess Rainbow (FR) 50-1 (10-11) Allowed clear lead 4 out, headed next, weakened 2 out, 9th of 14, 31l behind Mille Chief (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
River Beauty 12-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, in 4th and one pace when fell 2 out, in a race won by Kerada (10-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec, 16 ran.
