chased leader, switched to outer approaching 4th, ridden after 6th, weakened quickly and pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, led approaching 3 out, soon ridden, headed last, no extra
led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
raced wide but in touch, headway 4th, every chance 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
chased leader, reminders after 5th, soon beaten
held up but in touch, switched to outer approaching 4th, took closer order 6th, shaken up to lead last, stayed on strongly
behind, went poor 4th after 2 out, never a danger
The shortlist for this mares' race contains De Blanc, Nostra and Zaffaran Express, with the vote going to de Blanc. de Blanc has been running well of late over fences but she still looks reasonably treated based on her spring hurdling form. Given that she has won here and that the going will be no problem, she looks set to go well. Multiple French winner Nostra is surely better than her British debut at Haydock might suggest and, with Martin Pipe's stable in better form now, she has to be feared. Much as Zaffaran Express has been raised eight pounds for a Ludlow win, she is fairly lightly raced and remains open to further improvement. Sword Lady holds claims if getting back to her spring form, while the selection's stable companion Avitta is back to the mark over hurdles from which she won in November 2004, and has also to be respected. Finally, Darjeeling has disappointed so far this season, Bally Bolshoi is 14 pounds higher than when scoring at Chepstow, and Longstone Lady seems to need to find a bit of improvement. All of which returns us to the selection, which is de Blanc.
Nostra (FR) 9-2 (10-2) Tracked leaders, lost place 6th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Barton Nic (10-0) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan, 11 ran.
De Blanc (IRE) 11-10fav (10-11) Tracked leader, left in lead 8th, in command 2 out, eased flat, won at Plumpton 3m 2f nov chs (3) gs beating Mioche d'Estruval (11-4) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Sword Lady 10-1 (11-5) Led after 1st until 3rd, led next, mistake 5th, headed next, soon beaten, 5th of 9, 19l behind Sunley Shines (10-10) at Fontwell 2m 2f mrs hcp hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Precious Mystery (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Always prominent, every chance from 3 out, mistake last, no extra flat, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Zaffaran Express (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (4) gf in Jan.
Darjeeling (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) fell in race won by Motcombe (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 5f mrs nov chs (D) gd in Nov, 11 ran.
Bally Bolshoi (IRE) 7-4fav (11-9) Led, mistake 5th, headed 4 out, weakened quickly, 9th of 12, well behind Herecomestanley (10-12) at Warwick 2m 5f hdl (5) sft in Jan.
Longstone Lady (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden after 6th, no progress and weakened after 8th, 8th of 15, 27l behind Magot De Grugy (11-3) at Lingfield 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Oct.
