tracked leaders, smooth headway 3 out, led next, driven 3 lengths clear and looked in command when fell last
led to 5th, with leader, lost place 2 out, soon ridden, one pace in 3rd when left disputing 2nd at last, stayed on and every chance flat, just held in 3rd near finish
jumped right, with leader, led 5th, headed 2 out, soon lost place, weakened before last
tracked leaders, driven 3 out, lost place next, soon weakened, well beaten when hampered last
behind, outpaced after 3 out, soon ridden, kept on from last, never near leaders
tracked leaders, driven 3 out, lost place and ridden after next, well beaten when hampered last
mid-division on inside, headway to challenge when not much room on inside 2 out, soon switched outside, 3 lengths down and ridden when went right and left in lead last, hard pressed flat, just held on
behind, outpaced 2 out, plugged on from last, never near leaders
mid-division, outpaced 2 out, 6th and no impression when fell last
mid-division on outside, headway 4 out, lost place 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden, one pace in modest 5th when hampered last, never on terms
tracked leaders, driven 2 out, ridden and kept on when left disputing 2nd at last, soon every chance, kept on flat, just held
always in rear, lost touch and pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, weakened after 2 out
mid-division, chased leaders 2 out, soon ridden, kept on when left disputing 2nd at last, one pace flat, no extra towards finish
Quevega, who has dominated this contest in the last six years, may have retired but Willie Mullins appears to have a ready-made replacement in ANNIE POWER. She didn't quite get up the hill in the World Hurdle here last year but this trip won't be a problem and the lack of a recent run should make little difference either. Her narrow defeat by More Of That 12 months ago remains her only loss and she probably has upwards of 10lb in hand on her rivals. It would be no surprise if stablemate Glens Melody chased her home as she was only caught close home by Quevega last year and should again beat third L'Unique and fourth Hidden Identity - Pass The Time was further behind. Bitofapuzzle is an improving mare and beat Carole's Spirit over 3m in a Grade 2 at Ascot in January. But the runner-up is better off at the weights here and Harry Fry's seven-year-old also has something to find with The Pirate's Queen on earlier running in a Listed contest at Haydock. The latter has place claims in this and may be the pick of British-trained runners.
Annie Power (IRE) 1-6fav (11-7) Made all, jumped slightly left at times, pushed along and went clear from 2 out, stayed on well from last, easily, won at Punchestown 2m 2f mares hdl Grd 1 (1) in May beating Jennies Jewel (11-7) by 7l, 5 ran.
Bitofapuzzle 5-2fav (11-0) Tracked leading pair, led after 6th until next, pressed leader, led again briefly after 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, driven 2 lengths ahead when went right last, stayed on gamely, all out in closing stages, won at Ascot 3m hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan beating Carole's Spirit (11-5) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Carole's Spirit 11-4 (11-5) Jumped right, led until after 6th, led again next, driven and headed briefly after 3 out, ridden and narrowly headed 2 out, chased winner, 2 lengths down when went right last, hard ridden run-in and kept on well in closing stages, just held, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Bitofapuzzle (11-0) at Ascot 3m hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan.
Centasia 9-2 (11-12) Soon tracked leaders and keen, pushed along before 3 out, weakened from next, 5th of 8, 14l behind Smooth Stepper (10-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Dark Spirit (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, never involved, 6th of 9, 11l behind Bitofapuzzle (11-0) at Ascot 3m hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan.
Emily Gray (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Glens Melody (11-5) at Warwick 2m 5f mrs hdl (listed) (4yo+) (1) sft in Feb.
Glens Melody (IRE) 8-13fav (11-5) In rear, headway before 5 out, went 2nd 3 out, led on bit approaching 2 out, ran on well, won at Warwick 2m 5f mrs hdl (listed) (4yo+) (1) sft in Feb beating Emily Gray (11-0) by 7l, 7 ran.
Hidden Identity (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) Mid-division, lost place 4 out, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up after next, in a race won by Silsol (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m 4f ltd hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan, 14 ran.
L'unique (FR) 4-1 (10-12) In rear, headway before 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Carole's Spirit (11-6) at Kempton 3m mrs hdl (listed) (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov.
Mischievous Milly (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up in touch on inside, pushed along in 3rd after 9th, weakened next, struggling when hit 3 out, tailed off when mistake 2 out, 8th of 9, well behind Bitofapuzzle (11-0) at Ascot 3m hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan.
Pass The Time 13-2 (11-0) Raced wide, in touch, joined leader after 4 out, led narrowly on stands side rail next, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on under pressure flat, no impression with winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Intense Tango (10-3) at Doncaster 2m hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan.
Polly Peachum (IRE) 8-11fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, headway 3 out, one pace and disputing 3rd when fell last, in a race won by Carole's Spirit (11-6) at Kempton 3m mrs hdl (listed) (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov, 6 ran.
Sureness (IRE) 11-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, reminder after 5th, soon behind, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Blue Heron (11-4) at Kempton 2m Listed nov hdl (1) gs in Oct, 6 ran.
Swing Bowler 25-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, never involved, tailed off, 17th of 23, well behind Violet Dancer (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
The Pirate's Queen (IRE) 11-8 (11-0) Chased leaders, shaken up to challenge after last, hard ridden to lead towards finish, all out, won at Haydock 2m 4f mares listed nov hdl (1) hvy in Dec beating Bitofapuzzle (11-0) by nk, 5 ran.
The Govaness 11-8 (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway 4th, led 3 out, clear from 2 out, eased run-in, won at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan beating Dusky Legend (11-2) by 4l, 16 ran.
