made all, clear before 2 out, unchallenged
chased leaders on outside, pushed along briefly and lost place before 5th, effort into 3rd after 3 out, mistake and no chance with winner 2 out, weakened into 4th flat
some slow jumps, in rear, well beaten before 3 out
took keen hold, chased leaders, went 2nd after 4th, not fluent 5th, no chance with winner 2 out
not fluent early, in touch on inside, outpaced 3 out, switched right and no chance with winner after 2 out, went 3rd flat
chased winner until after 4th, weakened before 3 out
Gaia Du Gouet went for £85,000 after scoring on the Tipperary point-to-point track and though likely to need further in time will be expected to make a winning start for Dan Skelton. However, WALK IN MY SHOES was narrowly beaten by Magic Daze at Curraghmore a year ago and the winner has subsequently scored over hurdles and fences so Jonjo O'Neill's mare gets the vote. Way Past Midnight won a point at Garthorpe in April 2019 and didn't run again until fourth in a bumper two years later so she should do better. Ma Belle Noir hasn't been beaten far in two bumpers and should have more basis pace than most of these so has to be respected.
Gaia Du Gouet (FR) (11-6) Mid-div, 3rd 1/2way, prog in 2nd bef 4out, ld & gng best bef 2out, asserted & 3l adv bef last, kow flat, won at Tipperary 3m Good - Yielding in Apr beating Clearly Crazy (11-6) by 4l, 9 ran.
Ma Belle Noire 11-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 4f out, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon led again, headed inside final furlong, 4th and no extra towards finish, 4th of 18, 3l behind Lady Excalibur (11-1) at Aintree 2m 1f (4) gd in Oct.
Miss West (IRE) 150-1 (10-5) Held up in mid-division, headway 3 out, weakened after next, 6th of 10, 27 1/2l behind Chanceux (10-12) at Chepstow 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Walk In Clover (IRE) 125-1 (10-11) Towards rear, some headway 3f out but never any chance, 8th of 18, 15l behind Lady Excalibur (11-1) at Aintree 2m 1f (4) gd in Oct.
Walk In My Shoes (IRE) (11-6) Chsd ldrs, 4th frm 5th, 5th aftr 4out, clsr bef 2out, chall with ev ch aftr 2out, outjumped last, no ex early flat, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Magic Daze (11-11) at Curraghmore 3m mdn sft in Oct.
Way Past Midnight 12-1 (11-0) Chased leader, ridden over 3f out, lost 2nd just inside 2f out, stayed on same pace, dropped to 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 7 3/4l behind Do You Think (11-0) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (5) sft in May.
