reluctant to line up and led in, well away, won battle for lead and made most, clear when hit 2 out, kept on strongly
held up, dropped to rear and struggling after 6th, tailed off
held up in last pair, distant 5th before 2 out, never a factor
tracked leaders, 2nd approaching 4 out, pushed along and no impression before 2 out, mistake last, lost 2nd post
traced leaders but off the pace, lost place after 5th, pushed along in last pair and struggling before 4 out, tailed off
pressed winner until approaching 4 out, chased leading pair, weakened quickly next, tailed off
held up, headway chasing leaders 3 out, soon pushed along, weakened before mistake 2 out
held up in rear, headway chasing leaders 4 out, 3rd after next, ridden and no impression before 2 out, went modest 2nd post
Smart Talk is on a hat trick after victories at Worcester and Sedgefield but this is a step up in grade, though she has only been raised a couple of pounds. Desert Queen has a bit to prove now after being pulled up twice in a row while Kilty Caul took a backward step at Towcester but Altesse De Guye ran well on her reappearance at Chepstow and makes more appeal than Miss Serious on these terms. Midnight Belle races over hurdles for the first time in a year while Promanco has been beaten twice recently off similar marks. We shall take a chance on the returning GABRIELLA ROSE as she looked a nice prospect when chasing home the useful Ron's Dream at Newbury in January. She handles the mud and was quite highly tried later.
Desert Queen 7-2 (11-8) Reluctant to line up and led in start, took keen hold, tracked leader until led before 2nd, hit 4th and next, headed 7th, chased leader until stumbled 3 out, weakened quickly and soon behind, pulled up before 2 out, at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Miss Serious (IRE) 10-3fav (10-13) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, one pace, 4th of 10, 21 3/4l behind Atlantic Gold (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m (3) gd in Oct.
Gabriella Rose 11-1 (11-3) Held up in last pair, niggled along and headway on outside tracking leaders 7th, driven after 9th, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 8, 32 1/4l behind Jennys Melody (11-5) at Ayr 3m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Smart Talk (IRE) 4-9fav (10-7) Made all, pushed along before 2 out, soon clear, kept on strongly, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f (4) gs in Nov beating Sunny West (10-7) by 12l, 5 ran.
Midnight Belle 25-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders in 3rd and in rear, outpaced after 5 out, last of 3, dist behind Saphir Du Rheu (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f lst (1) gs in Nov.
Promanco 4-1fav (11-1) Held up in last pair, headway on inside tracking leaders approaching 2 out, soon one pace, lost 3rd between last two, kept on same pace in 4th run-in, 4th of 7, 11 1/4l behind Drum Valley (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Kilty Caul (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) In rear, headway before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 4th of 16, 7 3/4l behind Ruby Rambler (11-0) at Towcester 2m mdn (5) gd in Nov.
Altesse De Guye (FR) 33-1 (10-9) In rear, headway before 4 out, led 2 out, ridden and headed last, kept on same pace, 4th of 12, 5l behind Sykes (11-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
