held up in rear, switched left before 3 out, jumped right 2 out, headway approaching last, stayed on flat, never on terms
held up in touch in mid-division, headway after 6th, pushed along and close up when blundered badly 3 out, not able to recover, weakened flat
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden and one pace 2 out, stayed on flat
led, not fluent 3rd, headed after 3 out, weakened flat
prominent, led after 3 out, headed after next, 3rd and beaten last, one pace flat
held up in mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway approaching 3 out, challenged next, soon led, jinked right before last, ran on well
in rear, stuck solo right to inside rail after 6th, soon ridden and weakened
prominent, not fluent 2nd, lost place 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, stayed on, unable to challenge winner
Une Artiste beat Alasi by two-and-a-half lengths in this 12 months ago but this year's renewal looks a lot more competitive. Doyly Carte was progressive last season and won in this grade at Cheltenham in April but L'UNIQUE won a Grade 1 at Aintree on her final start of last season having earlier beaten Cockney Sparrow easily at that track in December. John Quinn's filly is better off at the weights now and is fit from a successful campaign on the level but may still struggle to reverse form with Alan King's classy four-year-old. Mischievous Milly and Prima Porta are best of the rest but still have a bit to find at the weights.
Doyly Carte 13-2 (10-12) In touch in mid-division, headway after 3 out, switched right after next, led when hit last, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f mares listed nov hdl (1) gs in Apr beating Ma Filleule (11-3) by 1l, 8 ran.
L'unique (FR) 10-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, went 3rd after 4 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, kept on well, won at Aintree 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Apr beating Runswick Royal (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Mischievous Milly (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Held up in 4th, challenged on outside after 3 out, led narrowly approaching next, not fluent last, soon ridden, stayed on well towards finish, won at Taunton 2m 1f (1) hvy in Dec beating Ma Filleule (11-2) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Une Artiste (FR) 11-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Court Minstrel (10-9) at Ayr 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
Alasi 9-2 (10-9) Took keen hold, held up in last pair, weakened 4 out, last of 6, 17l behind Hunt Ball (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs (2) gf in Apr.
Cockney Sparrow 5-1fav (9-9) Towards rear, headway 2 out, hung right run-in, soon led, kept on well, won at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr beating Meganisi (10-4) by 6l, 22 ran.
Exclusive Dancer 12-1 (10-5) Tracked winner, lost place 2 out, soon beaten, 5th of 9, 20l behind Saint Thomas (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Ixora (IRE) 20-1 (10-3) Mid-division, headway on outside 7th, led after 4 out, headed 3 out, one pace final 150 yards, 4th of 15, 6l behind Thomas Crapper (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Oct.
Prima Porta 13-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear, mistake 7th, well beaten after 3 out, tailed off, 14th of 16, dis behind Big Time Billy (9-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f mrs lst hdl (1) gs in Apr.
