mid-division, headway approaching 6th, weakened after 2 out
prominent, pushed along approaching 6th, weakened next
held up, headway after 8th, switched right approaching 3 out, jumped left and led 2 out, driven out
prominent, ridden after 8th, weakened quickly and pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, mistake 5th, soon pushed along, behind from 6th, pulled up before 8th
in touch, lost place 5th, headway after 7th, weakened after next
held up in rear, headway after 8th, weakened 3 out, soon hung left
in rear, reminders after 3rd, pushed along after 5th, headway on outside after 8th, led 3 out, headed 2 out, soon ridden and hung left, stayed on flat
in touch, lost place approaching 6th, soon behind, pulled up after 8th
mid-division, headway approaching 6th, ridden and weakened before 3 out, mistake last
held up, blundered 2nd, pushed along after 5th, in rear when fell 7th
held up, hit 5th, some headway on inside approaching 3 out, soon weakened
in rear, behind from 6th, tailed off when pulled up after 8th
held up in rear, headway 8th, every chance 3 out, switched right approaching last where mistake, one pace flat
led, headed after 6th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, weakened flat
tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th, led 8th to 3 out, weakened after 2 out
chased leader, led after 6th, headed 8th, soon ridden, struggling when blundered 3 out, soon weakened
We've rather a long short-list for this competitive opener but have decided to opt for Jeu D'Esprit ahead of Shaimaa and Banoo. The selection ran creditably in defeat on her first two starts behind the useful Numide before winning a mares' race at Fontwell. That was the first time that she had encountered decent ground over hurdles and she seemed to show improved form for the better surface. There should be more to come from her in this discipline and she should see out this trip. The Irish have a likely leading player in Missgoodytwoshoes but it may be worth having an interest in another Irish raider, Shaimaa, at a potentially bigger price. This winner of a fast ground bumper has rarely had her ideal conditions over hurdles but did run satisfactorily on quick ground last time over two miles. She looked in need of a step up in trip that day and she could show up well at a price. There are also more obvious contenders for the top prize than Banoo but the engagement of Aidan Coleman takes the eye and there's the suspicion that she's capable of better yet. She stayed on into fifth behind the selection last time having run respectably over two miles six on her penultimate start and this trip looks ideal for her first venture into handicap company. That's three against the field in an intriguing opener with Jeu D'Esprit the pick.
Lily Tara 7-1 (11-5) Held up behind, headway before 2 out, ridden to chase winner before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 15, 4 1/2l behind Major Malarkey (11-5) at Perth 3m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Kanonkop 25-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, reminders 5th, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 13, 12l behind Arctic Magic (11-7) at Stratford 2m 3f mrs hcp hdl (3) sft in Apr.
Romping Home (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up, ridden 5th, chased leaders 3 out, one pace approaching last, 4th of 8, 5l behind Doubly Sharp (10-7) at Worcester 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Apr.
Jeu d'Esprit (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, led after next, went right and mistake last, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f mrs mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr beating Markila (11-0) by 3l, 15 ran.
Celtic Heather (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) In touch, headway 5th, led 3 out, ridden clear 2 out, won at Worcester 2m 4f mrs mdn hdl (5) gs in Apr beating Friends of Tina (11-0) by 8l, 12 ran.
Solway Sunset 6-1 (11-2) Chased winner until ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 11, 31l behind Ruby Dante (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
Blast The Past 7-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, hit 3rd weakened under pressure approaching 2 out, 9th of 12, 27l behind Double The Trouble (10-8) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Banoo (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Mid-division until outpaced after 6th, stayed on again after 2 out, 5th of 15, 11l behind Jeu d'Esprit (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f mrs mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Shaimaa (IRE) 7-2fav (10-8) Rear of mid-division, moderate 7th 4 out, kept on same pace from before straight, no impression leaders, 6th of 15, 15l behind Connemara Rose (10-3) at Clonmel 2m mrs hcp hdl frm.
Takotna (IRE) 3-1fav (11-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, effort approaching 2 out, soon beaten, 4th of 19, 25l behind Avant Gardiste (10-10) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Mabel (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Held up, losing touch before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Arctic Magic (11-7) at Stratford 2m 3f mrs hcp hdl (3) sft in Apr, 13 ran.
Ruby Valentine (FR) 25-1 (11-6) Held up, ridden and weakened 4 out, 9th of 11, 11l behind Brousse En Feux (11-2) at Ludlow 2m mrs hcp hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Eliza Doalott (IRE) 22-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 8th, led 4 out to next, weakened 2 out, 13th of 15, well behind Major Malarkey (11-5) at Perth 3m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Laureldean Melody (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, ridden after 3 out, no impression from next, 4th of 8, 14l behind More Equity (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Mar.
Lucky Find (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Led, clear 2nd, headed 8th, weakened quickly, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Midnight Ocean (10-7) at Worcester 3m mrs hcp hdl (4) gd.
Missgoodytwoshoes (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (9-10) Raced keenly, mid-division, jumped right 1st, behind 8th, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Risk Runner (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Nov, 18 ran.
Lady Sambury 20-1 (9-13) Prominent, led 4 out, stayed on strongly from 2 out, won at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs beating Bene Lad (10-8) by 3 1/2l, 12 ran.
Hapeney (IRE) 18-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, weakened from 5th, 9th of 12, 42l behind Painted Sky (11-2) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl gd in Apr.
