tracked leaders, headway before 3 out, led 2 out, kept on well, driven out
with leader, blundered when challenging 3 out, left 2nd 2 out, kept on and no impression
always behind
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened before 3 out
always towards rear
towards rear, fell 3 out
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, kept on and left 3rd from 2 out, no impression
led, mistake 4 out, clear before 3 out, headed narrowly and looked beat when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
A decent renewal of this Listed contest with the weights headed by last year’s winner LADY BUTTONS. Philip Kirby’s nine-year-old was arguably better over fences last season but still won a Grade 2 over timber at Doncaster in January and was fourth in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. She carries 6lb more than last year but will be tough to beat again. It’s interesting that Harry Skelton prefers Vision Du Puy to the race-fit Aweeminit and she probably has stronger claims than fellow four-year-old and French import Zambella. Diamond Gait goes well fresh and Indefatigable shaped well in a strong handicap at Chepstow three weeks ago and will strip fitter here.
Lady Buttons 5-1fav (11-6) Chased leaders, went 2nd going ok from 3 out, ridden after 2 out, no impression on winner before last, kept on, 2nd of 13, 10l behind Moon Over Germany (10-7) at Aintree 2m hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Indefatigable (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Raced wide towards rear, closer in mid-division before 4 out, chased leaders in 3rd after 4 out, led before 3 out until next, chased leaders, ridden and weakened between last, 5th of 16, 11 1/4l behind Flash The Steel (10-5) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) sft in Oct.
Aweeminit (IRE) 2-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, led last, soon pressed, hard driven, held on well, won at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Now Look At Me (11-11) by nk, 9 ran.
Diamond Gait 100-1 (11-2) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, weakened after 3 out, 16th of 22, 24 1/4l behind Eglantine Du Seuil (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gs in Mar.
Hijran (IRE) 33-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten, 11th of 13, 14 1/4l behind Gamesters Icon (9-0) at Bath 1m hcp fll (5) sft in Oct.
Smaoineamh Alainn (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, soon no impression, weakened before last, 8th of 14, 22 1/4l behind Capitaine (11-0) at Taunton 2m hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Vision Du Puy (FR) 4-9fav (10-13) Not always fluent, tracked front pair, went 2nd before 2 out, switched inside to challenge between last 2, went right last, led flat, driven out, well in command towards finish, won at Perth 2m (4) gd in Apr beating Edene D'Arc (11-4) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.
Zambella (FR) (10-7) won at Compiegne 2m 2f sft in Apr beating Green Hope (10-10) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
