held up in touch, headway to track leaders 3 out, ridden approaching next, kept on same pace
held up, fell 2nd
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, chased winner after next, kept on from last, no impression
held up, headway two chase leaders when hit 5th, soon outpaced
tracked leaders, blundered badly 3rd, struggling from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
with leader, pushed along and outpaced from 5th
tracked leaders, led after 3 out, ridden approaching last, kept on well
held up, pushed along and outpaced 5th, headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, soon weakened
led, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened 2 out, in 4th and beaten when blundered badly last, rider lost iron
After a couple of recent reversals over fences, Perle de Puce goes back over hurdles but Nicky Henderson's mare does not appear to be particularly well treated and a better bet looks to be Bold Fire, who is preferred to De Blanc. The last mentioned got the better of Perle de Puce at Towcester last time and has an obvious chance meeting her old rival on better terms today. Pay Attention lost little in defeat behind the useful Refinement last time and has to be respected off the same mark today, while the novice Heltornic may want a softer surface to show his best form. Miss Academy showed very little on her return and is hard to recommend on that evidence, while Dancing Pearl has a bit to find with Pay Attention on running last time. The vote then goes to Bold Fire, who made a winning debut for Paul Nicholls at Wincanton last week. The French import should improve for that outing and looks to be potentially well treated for her debut in this grade.
Perle de Puce (FR) 4-5fav (10-5) Tracked winner from 4th, headway 2 out, not reach winner, 2nd of 7, 4l behind De Blanc (10-12) at Towcester 2m 3f mrs beg chs (4) sft.
Miss Academy (FR) 16-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, weakened soon after, 11th of 20, 19l behind Desert Air (10-9) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) sft.
Pay Attention 11-4 (11-12) Held up behind leaders, headway 3 out, kept on flat but no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Refinement (11-11) at Sandown 2m mrs hcp hdl (3) sft.
De Blanc (IRE) 7-4 (10-12) Made all, jumped left throughout, 10 lengths clear 2 out, kept on, won at Towcester 2m 3f mrs beg chs (4) sft beating Perle De Puce (10-5) by 4l, 7 ran.
Dancing Pearl 25-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, disputing 2nd from 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, no impression flat, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Refinement (11-11) at Sandown 2m mrs hcp hdl (3) sft.
Heltornic (IRE) 11-1 (11-3) Led to 2nd, led again 6th, mistake 7th, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakening when slightly hampered 2 out, 4th of 9, 25l behind Be Be King (11-10) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft.
Bold Fire 4-11fav (10-6) Led to 2nd, led after 3rd, quickened clear on bit approaching 2 out, unchallenged, won at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs beating Busy Henry (10-11) by 6l, 10 ran.
Miss Pebbles (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up behind leaders, hit 3 out, effort when hit 2 out, kept on one pace flat, 4th of 6, 5l behind Refinement (11-11) at Sandown 2m mrs hcp hdl (3) sft.
Emmasflora 12-1 (11-1) Held up, headway after 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 8, 19l behind Heltornic (11-6) at Haydock 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) sft.
