chased leaders on inside, jumped slowly 6th, soon outpaced and behind, switched left before 2 out, plugged on in 4th
keen, held up in rear, not fluent 1st and 5th, headway when carried wide turning in, went 2nd before 2 out, hit 2 out, 2 lengths down last, driven and stayed on gamely to lead final 100 yards
led, mistake and pushed along 3 out, headed on long run before next, soon weakened
chased leading pair until 6th, handy 4th, pushed long after 3 out, 3rd again before next, ridden and not quicken between last 2, kept on run-in, went 2nd towards finish
pressed leader, hit 4 out, pushed along after 3 out, soon lost 2nd and weakened
held up in 5th, closer in 3rd place 6th, led on long run before 2 out, 2 lengths ahead last, headed and no extra final 100 yards, lost 2nd close home
Longhousesignora beat a subsequent winner at Ludlow but will need to find a little further improvement to defy a 7lb rise and complete a double. KEEP THE RIVER doesn’t know how to run a bad race and can get her head back in front as Floral Bouquet hasn’t been firing this season and the handicapper has taken no chances with the lightly-raced Viva Vittoria. So Lonely always seems to find at least one too good and Petronella Manners had every chance when favourite last time at Doncaster.
Floral Bouquet 16-1 (11-0) Raced wide, tracked leaders, blundered and stumbled badly 4th, reached for 12th, outpaced when stumbled badly 13th, plugged on run-in, 4th of 5, 30 3/4l behind Castafiore (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 4f (3) gs in Dec.
Viva Vittoria (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway 7th, not fluent 3 out, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 11, 8l behind Yellow Dockets (11-6) at Warwick 2m 5f (4) gs in Jan.
Keep The River 3-1 (11-6) Always prominent, ridden to chase winner 2 out, one pace and lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Derriana Spirit (11-6) at Newcastle 2m 5f (4) gs in Jan.
Longhousesignora (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, jumped right next and last, stayed on strongly, won at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Jan beating Field Exhibition (11-12) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Petronella Manners 2-1fav (11-0) Led until not fluent 6th, not fluent 3 out, no impression on winner flat, kept on, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Cara's Way (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
So Lonely (IRE) 2-1fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 5th, 2nd before 3 out, led and hit 2 out, headed approaching the last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Millarville (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn (5) gs in Jan.
