held up, took keen hold, headway 7th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 3 out
tracked leaders, lost place 6th, weakened after next
tracked leader, raced keenly, lost 2nd 5th, not fluent next, outpaced after 7th, no chance with winner, rallied from next to press for 2nd flat
held up in rear, headway on outside 5th, struggling 7th, no chance when hung left after 3 out, jumped right 2 out
held up in 4th, led after 7th, headed 3 out, soon ridden and beaten
pulled hard, jumped right, led until after 7th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up, raced keenly, headway 5th, went 2nd next, led 3 out, clear 2 out, eased towards finish
Miss Phoebe was in good from in the summer with wins at Stratford twice and here as well but she has paid the penalty at the hands of the handicapper and a better bet looks to be EDGEFOUR, who gets the vote over She's No Muppet. Nick Mitchell's mare was good value for her win at Hereford last month but the nine-year-old has gone up 19lbs to a career high mark for that success and she is hard to back with confidence after that rise. Martin Keighley's Wychwoods Legend was well held in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle when last seen at the festival but she has to be respected back in a handicap on her reappearance. Neil Mulholland's Rhinestone Ruby has been in good form with recent wins here and at Uttoxeter and she has solid claims and will relish the surface but she has a lot of weight to carry so a better bet looks to be Edgefour. Ben Case's mare comes here fit and in form from the flat and looks reasonably well treated back over hurdles.
Rhinestone Ruby 4-1 (11-10) Took keen hold, led 2nd, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened into 4th when blundered badly 2 out, soon eased, not recover, 7th of 14, 25l behind Quivvy Bridge (11-3) at Stratford 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) gf in Aug.
Miss Phoebe (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 5th, struggling before next, went modest 4th approaching 3 out, never dangerous, 4th of 8, 13l behind Is It Me (11-12) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Jul.
Wychwoods Legend 100-1 (11-0) In touch, not fluent 4th, ridden after 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, 14th of 21, 39l behind Quevega (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) gs in Mar.
Princess Flame (GER) 10-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, raced wide, led after 2nd, headed 6th, weakened and hit 3 out, well behind when pulled up before next, in a race won by Victorias Groom (11-6) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Mar, 8 ran.
Edgefour (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, ridden and switched right after 2 out, stayed on one pace flat, 3rd of 14, 5l behind Priest Field (10-11) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Jul.
She's No Muppet 7-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders and keen, led approaching 7th, clear approaching 2 out, won at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Sep beating Icansingarainbow (11-6) by 21l, 14 ran.
Thehonourablelady 5-2fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 10, 33l behind Classic Fly (10-7) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Sep.
