tracked leaders, lost place after 2nd, jumped right and slowly next, headway after 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened next
took keen hold, led, jumped right, rider lost iron briefly 2nd, headed after 4th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
took keen hold, mid-division, hampered, faltered and unseated rider 2nd
prominent, led after 4th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened before next
held up, headway when mistake 3 out, not fluent last, stayed on, not get to winner
mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 2nd
in rear, headway when not fluent 5th, weakened 3 out, mistake 2 out
held up, jumped right 4th, behind next
held up, headway approaching 4th, led 3 out, driven flat, held on well
prominent, took keen hold, lost place after next
prominent, led after 5th, headed 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
Mares only races can be uncompetitive so Donald McCain probably had that in mind when giving Bahira an entry for this contest. A three-time winner in bumpers, she hasn't been since disappointing in a hurdle at Uttoxeter in 2011. Exeter winner, Nurse Ratched is surely better than her hurdling debut at Stratford suggests while Scarlet Whispers has been busy on the Flat and is noted from a stable that tend to do well with fillies. If taking to obstacles, CRAZY may be the one to beat on her British debut. A winner at Dresden and Longchamp for previous connections, she could literally be anything. Lucys Girl was often the subject of support in point-to-points and she is sure to have come on for her reappearance.
Bahira (IRE) 11-8fav (10-4) Tracked leaders, pecked slightly 1st, went 2nd 3 out until mistake 2 out, no extra last, 3rd of 5, 21l behind Carabinier (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m NH mdn hdl (5) gd in Jun '11.
Beyond Dreams (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Prominent, mistake and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Engai (11-0) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd, 11 ran.
Desert Fairy 250-1 (10-7) Behind, not fluent 2nd, lost touch 5th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Naughty Naughty (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Feb '11, 14 ran.
Drombeg West 50-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear and keen, headway before 2 out, one pace and no impression, 5th of 13, 36l behind As I Am (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Jun.
Kimora (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway 3 out, not fluent last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Engai (11-0) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd.
Lucys Girl (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Led to 3 out, ridden and weakened soon after, blundered last, 6th of 8, 33l behind Massannie (11-5) at Stratford 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Pagham Belle 50-1 (10-4) Chased leader, weakened over 4f out, tailed off, last of 12, well behind Jeano De Toulouse (11-0) at Southwell 2m n h flat (4) std in Mar.
Scommettitrice (IRE) 3-1fav (8-9) Pushed along to chase leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 3l behind Steel Rain (9-5) at Chepstow 5f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Jun (flat).
Crazy (GER) (8-8) 3rd of 14, 2l behind Bright Call (9-2) at Maisons-Laffitte(FR) 1m 2f 4yo clm gs in May (flat).
Nurse Ratched (IRE) 10-1 (9-12) Held up mid-division, not fluent 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 13, 45l behind Azure Fly (11-0) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (5) gd.
Scarlet Whispers 8-1 (9-3) Prominent, ridden 4f out, weakened over 3f out, 10th of 12, 40l behind Jupiter Storm (9-3) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jun (flat).