led, ridden and joined 2 out, headed last, no chance with winner
chased leader, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, relegated to 3rd when hit 2 out, stayed on same pace
mid-division, jumped right 3rd, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
keen early, always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear, no chance after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden before 2 out, stayed on same pace
in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, mistake 3rd, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, weakened 3 out
soon well behind, tailed off 5th, blundered last
mid-division, jumped left 2nd, not fluent and reminders 4th, no chance 5th, tailed off
behind, jumped badly right and slowly 3rd, tailed off
always prominent, hit 3 out, challenged 2 out, led last, drew clear flat, readily
EPEE CELESTE is the call in the opener with Dream Risk and Zepnove others to make the shortlist. The selection has had plenty of experience in France under similar conditions and typically for this stable was bought out of an Auteuil claiming hurdle. Dream Risk ran creditably in a Wetherby maiden. The winner was above average for the grade and there was no mean feat about finishing fifth in such foul conditions. Zepnove won't always be as unfortunate as she was in running up against the progressive Screaming Brave. Blakeneys Pet had shown glimpses of ability in bumpers and is one very much to note in the market. Veiled was previously trained on the flat by Sir Mark Prescott and makes a hurdling debut for Jeff Pearce this afternoon. The stable won this race last year. Ingenue is well bred though has not lived up to that billing on the flat. Haling Park fell at Fakenham having caught the eye with a staying on effort at Sandown on debut. Mrs Slocombe has been well held in two stronger maidens and it remains to be seen as to whether this apparent drop in class serves her well. Dayanara was formerly trained on the flat by Clive Cox though regressed badly at that discipline. A moderate race with good prize money and Epee Celeste can make experience count.
Zepnove (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Led, headed approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Screaming Brave (10-12) at Leicester 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Epee Celeste (FR) (10-7) won at Auteuil(FR) 2m 2f clm hdl hvy in Nov beating Trita Bella (10-3) by 8l, 18 ran.
Blakeneys Pet (IRE) 9-1 (10-2) Prominent, pulled hard, saddle slipped and led after 3f, headed over 5f out, weakened over 3f out, jockey kicked both irons out final 2f, tailed off, last of 16, well behind The Laodicean (10-12) at Huntingdon 1m 6f 3yo nhf (5) gd in Nov.
Bounty Reef 50-1 (9-0) Pulled hard and prominent on wide outside, lost place 4f out, soon behind, last of 14, 15l behind Sceilin (11-0) at Warwick 1m 3f am hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Sep (flat).
Dayanara (USA) 16-1 (8-8) Led 1f, remained prominent, under pressure over 3f out, stayed on gamely, 6th of 14, 7l behind Mondego (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct (flat).
Dream Risk (FR) 25-1 (10-0) Held up, blundered 4th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 13, 23l behind Bocamix (10-7) at Wetherby 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Haling Park (UAE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up, fell 3rd, in a race won by Evening Sunset (11-5) at Fakenham 2m juv fll nov hdl (3yo) (4) gd in Nov, 9 ran.
Ingenue 16-1 (9-8) Tracked winner, ridden 4f out, driven over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, 6th of 7, 15l behind K'gari (8-6) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov (flat).
Mrs Slocombe (IRE) 125-1 (10-5) Led, reminders after 5th, headed 2 out, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened between last 2, 5th of 7, 29l behind Westlin' Winds (10-9) at Hereford 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Owls Fc (IRE) 250-1 (10-5) In rear, swerved right and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Evening Sunset (11-5) at Fakenham 2m juv fll nov hdl (3yo) (4) gd in Nov, 9 ran.
Turn To Dreams 25-1 (8-8) Raced freely, led until 3f out, weakened rapidly over 2f out, last of 11, 36l behind Final Drive (9-1) at Lingfield 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov (flat).
Valentine Bay 100-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden and weakened halfway, 8th of 10, 13l behind Ponting (9-3) at Southwell 6f mdn stks (5) fbs in Nov (flat).
Veiled 2-1fav (8-13) Held up towards rear, headway over 5f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 5l behind Bushy Dell (8-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Sep (flat).
