held up in touch, smooth headway to lead after 4 out, going well when took wrong course before next, soon pulled up
mid-division, mistake 4th, headway and in touch next, left in lead approaching 3 out, soon ridden, headed before next, weakened approaching last
held up, always behind
prominent, outpaced when hit 3 out, weakened from next
mid-division, headway after 4 out, led before 2 out, ridden last, headed flat, no extra
held up, headway under pressure approaching 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on to go 3rd when hung left approaching last, no chance with leading pair
mid-division on inside, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd before next, ridden to challenge last, led flat, ran on
raced keenly in touch, headway to lead before 4th, headed after 4 out, weakened from next
with leaders, outpaced when hit 3 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last
led to before 4th, chased leaders, outpaced when hampered after 4 out, weakened next
It is no surprise to see My Petra returning to hurdles having failed to progress as expected over fences last season but Nicky Henderson's mare faces no easy task giving weight away all round and a better bet looks to be the in-form TREATY FLYER, who gets the vote ahead of Serpentaria. Gordon Elliott's mare disappointed in a similarly decent race at Punchestown on her reappearance earlier this month but she is better than she showed that day and cannot be discounted. Anabel King's Izita Star has been running well without winning of late and is another to consider along with Alan King's Santia, although she will need to improve on recent form to trouble the judge. James Lambe's Quivvy Bridge has been in super form having won four of her last seven starts and the daughter of Alfora has every chance but this represents a step up in class for her and a better bet looks to be Treaty Flyer. Alison Thorpe's mare is in even better form that Quivvy Bridge, winning three of her last four starts, and she is fancied to win again.
My Petra 10-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway approaching 9th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Oh Crick (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar, 18 ran.
Serpentaria 5-2fav (11-9) Mid-division, headway into 3rd travelling well 3 out, ridden in 2nd entering straight, soon no impression, weakening in 7th when badly hampered at last, 8th of 15, 39l behind Voler La Vedette (11-6) at Punchestown 2m 2f mrs lst hdl.
Cosavita (FR) (10-5) 8th of 18, 9l behind Dame Bleue (11-0) at Clairefontaine(FR) 2m 1f hdl gd in Jul.
Izita Star 28-1 (11-11) Prominent, led, hit 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, switched right after last, no extra, 5th of 15, 7l behind Mutual Friend (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf.
Lady Hillingdon 16-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden in moderate 4th approaching straight, soon no impression and kept on, 4th of 7, 5l behind Fosters Cross (11-5) at Tipperary 2m Grade 3 nov hdl gf.
Quivvy Bridge (IRE) 6-4fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd between last 2, led before last, ridden and hung left flat, held on towards finish, won at Hexham 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd beating Josephine Malines (11-3) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Santia 10-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 12, 30l behind Fairoak Lad (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sep.
Star Wood (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Led, joined after 3 out, headed and kept on same pace from next, 9th of 14, 13l behind Voler La Vedette (10-12) at Punchestown 2m 2f hdl G3 sft in May.
Treaty Flyer (IRE) 11-4 (11-1) Led, clear 2nd, ridden 3 out, headed next, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Katies Tuitor (11-8) at Kempton 2m hdl (2) gf.
Zahra's Place 15-2 (11-8) Held up, headway on inner 4 out, led 2 out, ridden and headed last, no extra flat, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Kickahead (11-2) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf.