held up in touch, ridden after 3 out, challenged 2 out led approaching and blundered last, soon headed, hard ridden to regain lead towards finish
held up, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
held up, not fluent 3rd, chased leader after 3 out, weakened going to last
held up in rear and keen, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
with leader, led after 3 out, headed approaching last, regained lead after last, headed towards finish
led, headed after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, lost place going to 3 out and mistake, weakened approaching 2 out
TOPSHAM BELLE is a confident choice to take the opener, while Far From Blonde and Over The Flow look the other two to concentrate on. The Nicky Henderson-trained selection has shown good form in all three career starts to date, winning a bumper and also a novices' hurdle last time out at Ludlow. Trip and ground suit and the manner of her win last time suggested that she would be capable of defying the penalty that she carries today. Far From Blonde was never really in it last time after making a mistake, but she had shown promise on her debut over this course and distance, and there is every chance that she can improve with a better round of jumping and take a close hand. Over The Flow has made the frame in half of her 12 starts, but not yet won. She is clearly vulnerable to a more lightly-raced type, and another finish in the first three is probably her best hope again today. Willow Wren looks potentially best of the remainder, but she has 56 lengths to find with our pick from their running at Ludlow and so we will stick with Topsham Belle.
Topsham Belle (IRE) 8-13fav (10-10) Always prominent, chased leader from 2nd, led 3 out, ran slightly green, ran on well flat, won at Ludlow 2m 5f mares NH nov hdl (3) sft in Dec beating Banjaxed Girl (10-10) by 9l, 10 ran.
Douryna 25-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, not fluent and bumped 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, mistake 2 out, 6th of 11, well behind Gilwen Glory (10-10) at Exeter 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Far From Blonde (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Held up, kept on 3 out, 4th of 17, 25l behind Dolly Penrose (10-10) at Exeter 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
New Mill Moll 14-1 (10-3) Took keen hold in touch, weakened soon after 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 14, 34l behind Asturienne (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Over The Flow 9-1 (10-6) Tracked leader to 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Lord Singer (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Silver Emblem 200-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, weakened 3 out, 10th of 17, well behind Dolly Penrose (10-10) at Exeter 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Willow Wren 10-1 (10-7) Prominent, weakened 8th, 5th of 10, well behind Topsham Belle (10-10) at Ludlow 2m 5f mares NH nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
