mid-division, pecked 2nd, blundered 5th, soon weakened
led and took keen hold, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened 2 out
always towards rear
held up and keen, jumped big and rider lost iron 1st, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened
pecked 2nd, always towards rear
chased leader to 5th, weakened, tailed off and pulled up 3 out
in touch, every chance when not fluent 2 out, soon outpaced, blundered last, stayed on flat
behind, headway 6th, ridden and every chance last, weakened flat
mid-division, headway approaching 6th, ridden after 2 out, ran on to lead towards finish
held up, headway approaching 6th, led 3 out, ridden after last, weakened and headed towards finish
chased leaders to 6th
In an interesting opener, Nevsky Bridge is favoured ahead of Rowlands Dream, Imperialistic, Sunisa and Sweet Oona. The McCain stable has had a good season and Nevsky Bridge looked better over hurdles than she had done on the Flat when scoring at Leicester in a mares-only event on her jumping debut. She looked as though she had better to come there and can go well today. A half-sister to Ground Ball and Mr Pointment, Rowlands Dream has shown plenty of promise in two hurdling starts and is an interesting contender. A 63-rated Lingfield all-weather maiden winner on the Flat, Dandygrey Russett is surely better than two pulled up hurdling efforts over jumps might suggest and this slightly less-testing going today could help. There is plenty of stamina on the dam's side of Imperialistic's pedigree and this 90-rated Flat winner is interesting, even though she has not won over further than a mile. Bumper winner Primeshade Promise showed a little more promise over hurdles last time, while, being a 92-rated Haydock handicap hurdle winner, Sunisa is entitled to every respect today, as is Sweet Oona, whose form is on her par with her's. Overall, though, the narrow vote goes to Nevsky Bridge.
Bourneagainkristen 66-1 (10-0) In touch, weakened 6th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Think Quick (9-11) at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (G) gs in Mar, 8 ran.
Dandygrey Russett (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Led until headed and pulled up 3 out in race won by Livingonaknifedge (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (F) hvy in Dec, 17 ran.
Heathers Girl 33-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, 8th of 15, 37l behind Nevsky Bridge (10-0) at Leicester 2m mrs nov hdl (3) hvy in Jan.
Imperialistic (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 15, 16l behind Strawberry Dale (8-10) at Doncaster 1m 2f lst fll stk (1) hvy in Nov (Flat).
Rowlands Dream (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Held up, headway over 3f out, chased winner final 2f, no extra close home, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Colline de Fleurs (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs nhf (6) sft in Jan.
Sunisa (IRE) 4-1 (10-2) In touch, effort when stumbled 2 out, one pace, 4th of 15, 9l behind Industrial Star (10-12) at Catterick 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Sweet Oona (FR) 15-8jt-fav (11-2) Held up, blundered 5th, some late headway under pressure, never a factor, 6th of 14, 19l behind Return Home (10-9) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Nevsky Bridge 11-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway and hit 5th, led 3 out, clear when not fluent last, eased towards finish, won at Leicester 2m mrs nov hdl (3) hvy in Jan beating Sonnengold (11-2) by 3 1/2l, 15 ran.
