made all, pushed along after 3 out, driven between last 2, strongly pressed last, hard driven flat, held on gamely
chased winner to after 2nd, chased winner again after 6th, travelling well approaching 2 out, challenged last, kept on under pressure flat, unable to head winner
took keen hold, tracked leading pair, chased winner after 2nd until 6th, soon ridden, outpaced and no chance with front pair, tailed off
tailed off in close 4th, travelling well and close up when fell 3 out
Dot's Delight ran better than expected when narrowly failing to catch Lady Hillingdon over course and distance last week and he has to be respected after that effort with Mark Rimell's runners in such good heart but it is hard to get away from WILLIAM'S WISHES, who gets the vote with Risk rated the best of the rest. The selection appreciated the step up to this trip when successful in comfortable fashion at Worcester last month and the Evan Williams-trained gelding has an obvious chance of following up under his penalty. Ashmolian ran well in a maiden hurdle here in May but has not run up to a similar level of form in two starts since then and of more interest may be Tim Vaughan's Lady De La Vega, who has only had the one start so far and is open to improvement. Charlie Egerton's Risk had become expensive to follow until winning in good fashion at Uttoxeter last month and he rates the main danger to the selection, William's Wishes.
Risk (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Made virtually all, ridden over 2f out, clear over 1f out, stayed on well (no official time taken), won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep beating Quivvy Bridge (11-5) by 11l, 9 ran.
William's Wishes (IRE) 3-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, raced keenly, headway approaching 7th, going well when not fluent 3 out, switched right after 2 out, challenged last, soon jinked right but led, soon edged left and clear, eased towards finish, won at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Sep beating Penyfan Dawn (11-0) by 5l, 12 ran.
Ashmolian (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Held up last, ridden after 7th, weakening when hampered 3 out, 8th of 12, 50l behind Pilgrims Lane (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Dot's Delight 12-1 (9-12) Held up well in rear, headway when jumped left and mistake 7th, chased winner approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat, always held, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Lady Hillingdon (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep.
Lady De La Vega (FR) 7-1 (10-4) Held up in touch, weakened 3f out, 4th of 10, 24l behind Fiveways (11-9) at Bangor 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Sep.
