raced freely and not always fluent, led, jumped left 2 out, headed before last, 3 lengths down flat, stayed on
chased leaders, lost place 7th, outpaced 4 out, jumped slowly 3 out, plugged on from 2 out, went 3rd last, no chance with front pair
held up in rear, effort 3 out, no impression, soon weakened
chased leaders, not fluent 7th, ridden after 4 out, 5th and weakening when mistake 2 out
led until 1st, chased leader, not fluent 6th, mistake next, driven along 3 out, not much room when not fluent 2 out, soon switched right, led before last, 3 lengths clear flat, ridden out
in rear, closed 8th, lost place before next, soon behind
Desert Queen may have been pulled up in two of her five career starts but she's won the other three and she should last the extra distance around here. But she's gone up 12lb since scoring easily at Ascot while Aintree winner Broxbourne was well beaten off her new mark at Cheltenham. The more rain the better for CANNON FODDER (NAP), who was second in this in 2013. Sheena West's mare is only 3lb higher and was only headed close home at Plumpton last month when the first two pulled well clear. Tara Mist would have found 2m much too short at Ludlow and Tagrita is unlikely to fail through lack of fitness but Minnie Milan still looks to be in the handicapper's grip and Titch Strider looks a forlorn hope on these terms.
Desert Queen 8-1 (11-12) Reluctant to line up and led in, well away, won battle for lead and made most, clear when hit 2 out, kept on strongly, won at Ascot 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Altesse De Guye (10-5) by 12l, 8 ran.
Broxbourne (IRE) 5-1jfav (11-7) Mid-division, hampered and lost place after 4th, closed 7th, outpaced after 3 out, well beaten next, 6th of 10, 21l behind Lily Waugh (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Tagrita (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Chased leading pair, went 2nd 2 out until between last two, weakened last, 6th of 9, 14 1/4l behind Tullyesker Hill (11-8) at Newbury 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Minnie Milan (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders and keen, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 5, 26l behind Morello Royale (10-12) at Kempton 3m lst (1) gs in Nov.
Cannon Fodder 5-1 (11-8) Chased leader, led after 4 out, narrowly headed last, kept on under pressure, held close home, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Tambura (10-12) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Tara Mist 11-4 (11-7) Prominent, not fluent 5th, outpaced 3 out, 4th and no impression when jumped right and mistake 2 out, jumped right last, 4th of 6, 15 3/4l behind Bella (10-11) at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Titch Strider (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Always towards rear, never involved, 6th of 10, dist behind Lily Waugh (10-10) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
