tracked leaders, closed up halfway, led after 2 out, driven out
tracked leader, led 3rd, fell 8th
in touch, outpaced 7th, left remote 4th last
held up towards rear, headway halfway to track leaders, every chance 3 out and 2 out, 3rd and beaten when fell last
towards rear, not fluent, blundered and unseated rider 6th
held up and behind, left poor 3rd last, weakened run in
led to 3rd, left in lead 8th, headed after 2 out, rallied and every chance after last, kept on
Gargoyle Girl was probably the best of these over hurdles but has had plenty of racing and preference is for the less exposed Letitia's Loss, who gets the vote over Sharp Single. The last mentioned showed promise on her final start of last season over fences when going down by just half-a-length to Specular at Market Rasen. Peter Beaumont's mare has the edge of the selection in terms of experience but Letitia's Loss is potentially different class to these. The Nicky Richards-trained mare looked a horse to follow when readily accounting for Kidithou at Sedgefield on Boxing Day over an extended 3m3f. A faller at Haydock subsequently, the daughter of Zaffaran is sure to have been well schooled for her debut over fences and has to be respected. The drop in trip is of some concern but the opposition lacks strength in depth and Letitia's Loss is taken to make a winning chase debut. Richard Guest's Why The Big Paws did win a maiden chase at Hexham in May and rates a bigger threat than recent Hexham third Uneven Line. Moon Mist makes very limited appeal and, along with Valuable, has plenty to do to get the better of the selection Letitia's Loss.
