tracked leaders, challenged after 3rd, led 5th until after 3 out, weakened next
held up, headway 5th, ridden 2 out, weakened last
led until 5th, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, no extra last
held up on outside, took keen hold, mistake 3rd, soon last and racing awkwardly, tailed off before 5th, pulled up after
held up in rear, headway when not fluent 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, mistake and headed last, held by winner after
mid-division, headway when not fluent 3rd, lost place 5th, soon behind
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, struggling after 5th
prominent, mistake 5th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, lost place after 4th, rallied approaching 2 out, went 3rd flat, stayed on
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, hit 4th, led 2 out, soon headed, 3rd and unable to quicken when mistake last, no extra
held up, not fluent 4th, headway next, jumped left and not fluent 3 out, challenged 2 out, led last, stayed on well
This looks a tricky opener as several of these are almost certainly capable of improving on what they've shown so far. One such is Champagne Flora, who was never going quickly enough to get competitive in a Worcester bumper on her debut but will be suited by the switch to hurdles and this stiffer test of stamina. Milly Malone kept on well when third at Ffos Las while Playful Rose appears to be improving with experience and Genstone Trail won a bumper on debut only to disappoint afterwards. WESTERN APPROACHES was beaten less than a length at Cheltenham on her hurdling bow, however, and this looks well within her compass.
Champagne Flora 5-2fav (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, soon outpaced, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 10, 24l behind Strongly Suggested (11-0) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gd in Sep.
Genstone Trail 10-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, headway 8f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 14, 19l behind Scholastica (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m mares n h flat (6) gd in Apr.
Legendary Hop 16-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened 4f out, tailed off, 13th of 17, 39l behind Golden Firebird (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 1f mares n h flat (4) gd in Apr.
Midnight Maisie 200-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, jumped slowly 2nd, mistake 5th, pulled up before next (tack problems), in a race won by Hildisvini (11-7) at Lingfield 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar, 14 ran.
Milly Malone (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up, headway to get in behind leaders when hit 2 out, stayed on from last, went 3rd close home, not pace of leading duo, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Candelita (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Miss Hilton Silver Patriarch mare out of Emily-mou.
Ophelia's Kiss 100-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway after 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 14, well behind Justazippy (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m mares mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct.
Playful Rose (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 6th, every chance 3 out, stayed on same pace before last, dropped to 3rd soon after, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Semi Colon (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f mares NH nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Tea Caddy 4-7 (11-0) Trckd rival; led 2 out til hdd last; rallied to ld flat, won at Badbury Rings 3m ptp fm in Mar beating Maisie Malone (11-7) by 3/4l, 2 ran.
Western Approaches 8-1 (10-4) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway when jumped slowly 3 out, went 2nd after next, carried right when trying to challenge towards finish, hampered close home, 3rd of 9, 1l behind Court In Session (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (3) gf in Oct.
Young Mags (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, mistake 1st, headway approaching 5th, kept on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 15, 4 1/2l behind Combustible Lady (10-10) at Worcester 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Bold Tara 25-1 (9-11) In touch in mid-division, pushed along 7f out, lost place over 5f out, stayed on inside final furlong, no impression on leaders, 4th of 12, 21l behind Hazy Tom (11-0) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gd in Sep.
