held up in rear, headway 10th, went 2nd 12th, ridden and hung left after 5 out, 6 lengths down when left in lead 3 out, all out
led, 6 lengths ahead and travelling well enough when mistake, stumbled and unseated rider 3 out
always behind, reminders after 3rd and 6th, lost touch 8th, pulled up before 9th
chased leaders, jumped left 7th, weakened quickly and pulled up before 5 out
mid-division, headway 11th, ridden approaching 5 out, left 2nd 3 out, stayed on flat
prominent, jumped left 1st, ridden after 10th, weakened 12th, left poor 4th 3 out
in rear, bumped 1st, headway 5th, lost place 9th, behind from 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
prominent, weakened after 13th, left poor 3rd 3 out
The three to concentrate on here are Colline De Fleurs, Back On Line and Norton Sapphire with preference for the Venetia Williams trained mare. Back On Line impressed when making a winning chase bow over two miles six at Uttoxeter and it was surprising to see her dropped back to two and a half at Exeter last time given how well she stayed that day. In any event, she was far from disgraced but today's test will show her in a better light. Norton Sapphire also made a winning debut over fences and could be hard to keep out of the frame as all conditions seem to come alike to this consistent and admirable mare but the suspicion is that the selection has more scope. Colline De Fleurs showed a similar level of ability to that pair over timber and only went down by a head on her chase bow when the lack of a recent run may have told in the closing stages. She will need to improve on that in order to take this heat though and Back On Line is readily preferred.
Back On Line (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Led to 2nd, chased leader until ridden approaching 4 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 12l behind Helen Wood (10-6) at Exeter 2m 3f mrs nov chs (4) gs in Dec.
Norton Sapphire 8-1 (10-7) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, every chance last, not pace of winner, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Raslan (11-12) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Alfloratta 100-1 (10-7) In rear when fell at the 3rd in race won by Rimsky (10-11) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (5) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Colline de Fleurs 8-11fav (11-0) Chased leaders, joined leader 14th, led 3 out, mistake last, driven flat and headed close home, 2nd of 5, hd behind Chico Time (10-9) at Folkestone 3m 1f mrs beg chs (4) gs in Dec.
Countess Trifaldi (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) In touch, went 2nd 2 out, one pace from last, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Special Conquest (10-7) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Dillay Brook (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, blundered 5th, struggling from 7th, virtually pulled up before 3 out, 4th of 9, well behind Corlande (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Jades Double 14-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, driven 10th, outpaced after next, 4th of 5, 24l behind Dear Villez (10-11) at Plumpton 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Dec.
Miss Doublet 50-1 (10-12) Towards rear, lost touch after 7th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Helen Wood (10-6) at Exeter 2m 3f mrs nov chs (4) gs in Dec, 12 ran.
