held up mid-division, headway after 4 out, weakened after 2 out
held up, in touch, took closer order 4th, led 4 out, kept on from last, headed towards finish
towards rear, reminders 4th, no impression from 3 out
held up, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace from next
chased leaders, went 2nd from 4 out, weakened 2 out
held up, headway after 4 out, every chance when blundered badly 3 out, weakened last
with leader, quickly weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off
towards rear, weakened 4 out, tailed off
made most until headed 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up soon after
close up, went 2nd approaching last, kept on same flat
chased leaders, every chance approaching 2 out, one pace
held up, headway approaching 3 out, led towards finish, stayed on well
On official ratings Amber Brook comes out clear best but we prefer the unexposed ALEGRALIL ahead of Give It Time and Pepite De Soleil. Donald McCain's runner takes a marked rise in class here having landed a couple of novice hurdles in ready fashion. Both of those efforts have come on ground similar to that raced on here and the mare has impressed many in the manner of those successes, so whilst on the figures she has plenty to find she remains of great potential and this isn't the strongest of graded races. Give It Time is one of two interesting contenders for Jessica Harrington, having shown smart form behind some of Ireland's most promising mares over the past few months. Her rating of 142 seems fully justified and whilst she has to give weight to most of these we know she stays further, acts on a variety of ground and represents a solid proposition. The trainers' other runner Zarinava shouldn't be dismissed lightly, despite the fact her proximity to live champion hurdle contender Voler La Vedette perhaps shouldn't be taken at face value, but she does look the stable second string. Of more interest though is Pepite De Soleil who will be suited by reverting back from handicap company having been undone by inexperience last time, and hailing as she does from the powerful yard of Paul Nicholls she'll attract support. She's got plenty of scope for improvement and is surely capable of better than we've seen and these conditions look ideal. Argento Luna has proved relatively consistent but she's got work to do with Amber Brook to score, so the Twiston-Davies runner is preferred of the pair. The nine-year-old comes out best at the weights but is overlooked in terms of being the selection on the grounds that she surely needs further to show her best form. My Petra is well treated on her rating over fences but she's got questions to answer at present and looks a risky proposition, so we'll advice a watching brief with regards the Henderson runner, whilst Pagan Starprincess needs to take another step forward to score. This is a competitive mares' only race, one that may go the way of Alegralil.
Give It Time 8-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders in 3rd, close up and ridden 3 out, 2nd after last, kept on under pressure without threatening winner, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Donnas Palm (11-8) at Navan 2m 4f hdl G2 sft in Dec.
My Petra 16-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, hit 7th, blundered 9th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Tranquil Sea (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov, 16 ran.
Pagan Starprincess 8-1 (11-6) Held up, headway halfway, led 2 out, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec beating Terenzium (10-8) by nk, 10 ran.
Argento Luna 4-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, well behind when hit 3 out, 6th, keeping on one pace, looked held when brought down 2 out, in a race won by Strawberry (11-4) at Kempton 3m hdl (2) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Alasi 10-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 3 out, weakened well before next, tailed off, 6th of 12, 49l behind The Minack (11-8) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Alegralil 2-5fav (11-3) Not always fluent, chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, readily, won at Catterick 2m 3f mares NH nov hdl (4) gs in Dec beating Shayaza (10-10) by 5l, 12 ran.
Amber Brook (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Mid-division, lost place 7th, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 4th of 8, 13l behind Sweetheart (11-0) at Ascot 3m hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan.
Elzahann (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten and detached, pulled up before next, in a race won by Whiteoak (10-12) at Kempton 3m mrs lst hdl (1) gs in Nov, 5 ran.
Issaquah (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden and dropped rear after 5th, 13th of 15, 34l behind Khyber Kim (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Pepite De Soleil (FR) 6-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 25l behind Tasheba (11-12) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) hvy in Dec.
Treaty Flyer (IRE) 4-1fav (10-12) With leaders, outpaced when hit 3 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last, 4th of 10, 23l behind Santia (10-12) at Wetherby 2m mrs lst hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Zarinava (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, 4th after 2 out, 3rd and challenged last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Voler La Vedette (11-9) at Leopardstown 2m 4f mrs hdl (listed) (4yo+) in Dec.
