not always fluent, held up in rear, headway into 3rd briefly before 2 out, weakened soon after
in touch not fluent 4th, weakened soon after 6th (3 out)
tracked leader, led after 3rd, clear 2 out, easily
took keen hold, held up in touch, pushed along and struggling in rear soon after 5th, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out
tracked leaders, 2nd after 6th (3 out), no chance with winner from next, clear 2nd
raced wide, tracked leading pair, pushed along and one pace before 2 out
led until after 3rd, chased leader until weakened after 6th (3 out)
Via Volupta has finished runner-up over these hurdles the last twice now and has 10lb in hand with Worcester third What A Scorcher on today's terms. Secret Door showed promise when third on her hurdling bow at Warwick ahead of Zara Hope but PINK PLAY found only the hot favourite Robins Reef too good at Ludlow on her first start over timber and she gets the nod to come out best with normal progress. Burma has been competing in bumpers in France but was well beaten over timber at Warwick in between.
Burma (FR) 25-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, closed before 4th, pushed along next, weakening when mistake 3 out, last of 9, dist behind Roadie Joe (11-5) at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Sep.
Cosmic Diamond 66-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, ridden and outpaced 3 out, 4th and well beaten when not fluent 2 out, 7th of 10, dist behind Briery Queen (10-10) at Doncaster 2m 4f (4) gd in Nov.
Pink Play (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) In touch, driven to challenge 3 out, chased winner next, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 11, 4l behind Robins Reef (11-0) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Samarinta 100-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along 10f out, lost place 8f out, tailed off, last of 16, dist behind Burlington Bert (10-12) at Warwick 2m (6) sft in May.
Secret Door (IRE) 3-1fav (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 17, 2 3/4l behind Lamanver Alchemy (10-12) at Warwick 2m (6) gs in Nov.
What A Scorcher 7-4fav (10-10) Tracked leaders, led after 5th, edged left before 3 out, headed after 2 out, no extra inside final 100 yards, 3rd of 10, at Worcester 2m mdn (5) gs in May.
Zara Hope (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Led until 3rd, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 30 3/4l behind Briery Queen (10-10) at Doncaster 2m 4f (4) gd in Nov.
Spendajennie (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, lost place 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind Singlefarmpayment (10-12) at Southwell 3m (4) sft in Dec.
Via Volupta 11-8fav (10-12) Led, driven and headed 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Yes I Did (10-12) at Southwell 2m (4) sft in Nov.
