held up, not fluent and ridden 6th, behind 7th, continued well tailed off
mid-division, headway after 3rd, mistake 4th, not fluent and struggling 8th, behind from next, tailed off
led until 2nd, stayed handy, went 2nd 9th, not fluent 2 out, stayed on under pressure, not able to get to winner
towards rear, ran in snatches, effort 8th, weakened approaching 3 out
led 2nd until approaching 8th, mistake next, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, outpaced 8th, stayed on approaching 2 out, went 3rd last, no impression on front pair
tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 5th, led before 8th, stayed on gamely, all out close home (no time taken)
held up, ridden after 8th, headway next, went well held 3rd 3 out until mistake last
tracked leaders, jumped left 3rd, weakened 3 out, mistake 2 out
Nonrunner
Royal Chatelier was only beaten half-a-length on heavy ground at Exeter last time and will be fancied to go one better here. The longer trip could bring about further improvement from the four-year-old Ladyvie while the ex-Irish Winds Of War was well backed at Market Rasen on Boxing Day and is now tried in a visor. ACOSTA has stamina in abundance and seems to be recovering his best form. He's gone up 6lb since finishing second at Hereford but is still fairly treated and looks the most likely winner of this.
Sovereign Spirit (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, took keen hold, tailed off 5 out, last of 9, well behind Mission Complete (11-8) at Exeter 2m 5f 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (5) hvy.
Hazy Dawn 20-1 (11-2) Led until 3 out, soon lost place, 6th of 13, 29l behind Carrickmines (11-2) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Royal Chatelier (FR) 3-1fav (10-11) Tracked leader, challenged 2 out, ridden to lead before last, no extra and headed close home, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Mission Complete (11-8) at Exeter 2m 5f 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (5) hvy.
Lady Ida 20-1 (10-6) Tracked leader until 3rd, pushed along next, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 10, well behind Zefooha (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 4f Mares Handicap Hurdle (0-120) (3yo+) (4) gs.
Ladyvie (FR) 16-1 (11-9) Led, driven and headed before 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression approaching last, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Matrow's Lady (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
Acosta 8-1 (10-7) Held up mid-division, went 3rd before 2 out, chased winner from last, kept on, 2nd of 16, 4l behind Ukrainian Star (11-7) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
Bringewood Belle 16-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, hit 7th, challenged and chased winner 3 out until weakened last, 3rd of 16, 11l behind Ukrainian Star (11-7) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
Supreme Team (IRE) 7-2 (10-6) Tracked leaders, ridden and no impression from 2 out, went 3rd after last, 3rd of 12, 27l behind Reefer Beefer (11-12) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Mar.
Westwire Toby (IRE) 40-1 (10-6) Towards rear, not fluent and ridden 7th, soon lost touch, 7th of 11, 43l behind Derwen Pryde (10-7) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
Winds Of War (IRE) 5-2fav (11-7) In touch, ridden 5th, outpaced 3 out, rallied flat, 5th of 9, 7l behind Rhythm Seeker (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft.
