held up in touch, shaken up 3 out, switched wide and challenged approaching 2 out, kept on one pace
chased leader, led on bit after 3 out, ridden headed 2 out, kept on same pace
held up in mid-division, good headway from 3 out, led on bit 2 out, soon ridden, clear last, driven out, readily
prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up last, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace
led to 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
Refinement gets the call here ahead of She's Our Native and Silver Charmer. The Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle third, Refinement, warmed up for this by running well for a long way at Chepstow 14 days ago. Her official mark still seems reasonable enough and she can go well, as can Silver Charmer if in the same sort of form that saw her run so well at Cheltenham last time. Now rated five pounds above her Ludlow win, a good run from She's Our Native would not be a surprise, but United has something to prove now after losing her form since winning a Grade 1 Punchestown event in 2005. Overall, though, the vote goes to Refinement.
Refinement (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 6th, ridden to chase leaders, weakened when mistake last, 7th of 16, 16l behind Desert Tommy (10-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Oct.
United (GER) 25-1 (11-6) Held up, ridden and some headway 3 out, never dangerous, 11th of 21, 15l behind Acambo (10-4) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in May.
Bold Fire 9-2 (11-10) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 13, 25l behind Mahogany Blaze (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 4yo hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
She's Our Native (IRE) 9-4fav (10-0) Held up, headway when slightly hampered 4 out, ran on flat, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Saffron Sun (11-1) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Apr.
Silver Charmer 20-1 (10-1) Held up in rear, headway on wide, outside approaching 3 out, stayed on under pressure flat, 4th of 19, 3 1/2l behind Monolith (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Oct.
Lady of Scarvagh (IRE) 9-1 (10-5) With leader until fell at the 4th in race won by Ardaghey (11-9) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Oct, 12 ran.