led after 1st, hit 4 out, headed before 2 out, no extra flat
chased leaders, not fluent 7th, outpaced 3 out, no extra from 2 out
held up in rear, some headway before 7th, no impression 4 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, challenged 4 out, led before 2 out, soon headed, no impression on winner flat
led until after 1st, prominent, pushed along 7th, beaten when jumped left and mistake 2 out
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, ridden and hung right after 2 out, 3rd last, kept on
mid-division, outpaced 4 out, well beaten next
held up rear of mid-division, headway 7th, led 2 out, edged right before last, clear flat, easily
Dual novice winner Nora The Xplorer faced a tougher task at Cheltenham on her handicap debut while Royal Practitioner also drops down in class with a shout. Jersey Lady won at Ffos Las recently having earlier been beaten by Starlyte at Southwell when Alchemystique finished third but CRYSTAL GAZING gets another chance. The latter hasn’t been at her best since scoring over course and distance in September but can race off a lower mark on her return and Nicky Henderson’s mare gets the vote.
Nora The Xplorer 7-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd or 4th, lost place 5th, not fluent 3 out, well beaten after 2 out, 5th of 9, 35l behind Panic Attack (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gd in Apr.
Crystal Gazing 3-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd briefly 2 out, soon ridden, 4th and beaten before last, 4th of 6, 8 3/4l behind Midnight Callisto (11-8) at Stratford 2m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Royal Practitioner 11-1 (10-5) In rear, headway into mid-division 3 out, ridden before last where not fluent, soon faded, 8th of 13, 13 1/2l behind Cubswin (11-12) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Jersey Lady (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, joined leader 5th, ridden 3 out, every chance when hit last, led flat, driven out, won at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Apr beating Kilganer Queen (10-11) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Starlyte (IRE) 17-2 (10-4) In rear, headway into midfield 6th, nudged along before 8th where not fluent, mistake next, soon pushed along, pecked 3 out, kept on to go third before last, 3rd of 6, 9 3/4l behind City Chief (11-12) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Alchemystique (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) In rear, jumped left throughout, steady headway 3 out, kept on from 2 out, never dangerous, 3rd of 9, 4 3/4l behind Starlyte (11-5) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Mar.
Jungle Prose (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) In touch, reminders and lost place 5th, hit 4 out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, dist behind Ratoute Yutty (10-0) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (5) gd in Mar.
Persuer 14-1 (10-13) Towards rear, moved up to chase leaders after 3 out, ridden 2 out and gradually faded, 4th of 7, 24l behind Miss Bamby (10-6) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (4) gf in Oct.
