led 2nd, clear approaching 3 out, in no danger after, not fluent 2 out
held up in rear, slightly hampered 3rd, headway next, weakened after 6th, mistake 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, headway 3rd, chased winner approaching 3 out, stayed on, no impression
jumped slowly 4th, soon outpaced, behind after next, tailed off
led until 2nd, chased winner until after 6th, weakened 3 out, went modest 3rd post
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place when hampered next, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders, pushed along after 5th, went modest 3rd after 3 out, no impression, blundered badly last, lost 3rd post
Peter Bowen has his string in good heart so Saintly Lady has to be considered but she has not progressed as one would have expected following her debut success in a Hereford bumper and looks booked for a place at best in a race where it is hard to get away from ASTROLIBRA, who gets the vote with Valkyrie rated the main danger. The selection is nothing out of the ordinary on the level but has shown a decent level of form in two starts since going over hurdles finding just one too good in each of her two starts so far, latterly when chasing home Mayberry at Fontwell last month and a reproduction of that form may well suffice in this company. Knar Mardy remains a maiden after 13 starts and of more interest may be Andy Crook's Knockaveen, who has yet to reproduce the level of form that he showed in bumpers since going over timber but has to be respected. Nick Littmoden's Valkyrie has shown promise in both starts over hurdles but Astrolibra has an obvious chance in this company and she looks the one they all have to beat.
Astrolibra 11-4fav (10-13) Tracked leader, led 3rd, pushed along before 2 out, joined and pressed soon after, ridden and headed last, no extra and held flat, 2nd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Mayberry (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
I Feel Fine 66-1 (10-2) Led, headed over 5f out, soon weakened, 13th of 14, well behind Rubys Cove (11-2) at Wetherby 2m NH flat (6) gd in Jun '08.
Knar Mardy 16-1 (10-7) In rear, hampered 4th, no chance when jumped left next, tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind Den Maschine (10-12) at Towcester 2m sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gf.
Knockaveen (IRE) 9-1 (10-5) Mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, soon outpaced, weakened from next, 5th of 13, 46l behind Kosta Brava (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4yo nov stks (4) gd.
Saintly Lady (IRE) 9-1 (10-6) Mid-division on inside, not fluent and dropped towards rear 2nd, mistake 6th, blundered next, soon struggling, lost touch when stumbled 4 out, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Oursininlaw (10-13) at Fakenham 2m 7f nh nov hdl (3) gf.
Pursuit of Purpose 200-1 (9-12) Pulled hard, tracked leaders, weakened after 5th, 5th of 10, 20l behind Blue Eyed Eloise (10-7) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf.
Valkyrie (IRE) 28-1 (10-3) Led, ran green, mistake 4th, headed 3 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure, 3rd of 12, 10l behind Clerk's Choice (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs.
