held up in touch, headway to lead after 4 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, no extra approaching last
held up in mid-division, headway 4 out, led approaching 2 out, stayed on, strongly
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
led, headed after 4 out, soon ridden and weakened
in touch, pushed along halfway, outpaced approaching 4 out
held up in rear, headway 4 out, effort next, kept on to chase winner flat, no chance
towards rear, blundered 4th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, brief effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Dancing Pearl bids to break a sequence of seconds and is taken to do so at the expense of Avitta, French Mannequin and Iambe de La See. Dancing Pearl has been given a two-month break since chasing home Kadara in a better race than this at Sandown at the start of January, a race that she perhaps would have gone even closer to winning but for a blunder at the second last. That was only her fifth ever outing over hurdles, and as she is sure to have been well schooled since, Cecil Price's mare should go close. Avitta clearly has ability but threw away a winning position at Wetherby when out gunned by Through The Rye. Granted, the winner is useful on his day but even so, Avitta should have made more of her chance. Nevertheless the stable are in great form and she should be there or thereabouts. French Mannequin kept finding more when gaining her first win in handicap company at Ludlow just over three weeks ago, but may struggle off a higher rating, while Iambe de La See has not produced her best yet and is sure to be well placed in due course by Nicky Henderson. On this occasion though she and the rest may have Dancing Pearl to beat.
