prominent, went 2nd 4 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with easy winner
prominent, lost place approaching 3 out, soon weakened
made all, drew clear from 2 out, easily
held up towards rear, struggling 4 out, plugged on from last, never near leaders
took keen hold, held up in rear, headway after 4 out, went 4th next, soon outpaced, weakened between last 2
held up towards rear, struggling 4 out, plugged on to take 4th from last, no chance with leaders
held up in 4th, went 3rd approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, no chance with front pair
held up towards rear, driven and weakened after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up after next
Alan King has won two of the last four renewals so Rosa Damascena is respected despite racing for the first time over hurdles after an absence. Evening Hush beat Litterale Ci at Exeter and there is no reason why that form will be reversed on the same terms. Daisy De Sivola has been campaigned in France so far but her second at Auteuil last month looks decent form and she makes more appeal than Warwick second Castafiore and Heaven Scent, beaten at Cartmel after winning at Market Rasen in the summer. HESTINA and Pleasure Dome were both decent middle-distance handicappers on the Flat for Peter Chapple-Hyam. The latter had just the higher rating but may need further over hurdles so we'll take a chance on Dan Skelton's recent acquisition.
Castafiore (USA) 5-2 (10-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 3rd, not fluent 3 out, challenging when not fluent 2 out or last, over 1 length down flat, stayed on towards finish, just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Nucky Thompson (10-12) at Warwick 2m mdn (4) gd in Nov.
Daisy De Sivola (FR) (10-7) 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Eclipse D'ainay (10-7) at Auteuil 2m 1f gs in Nov.
Evening Hush (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Made all, clear before last, readily, won at Exeter 2m 1f (4) sft in Nov beating Litterale Ci (10-5) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Heaven Scent 10-1 (8-12) Keen early, tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, lost place over 3f out, last of 11, 10 3/4l behind Gracesome (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Sep.
Hestina (FR) 5-2 (9-0) Tracked leader, took keen hold, led over 2f out, stayed on strongly, won at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp fll (3) gd in Oct beating Persun (9-5) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Litterale Ci (FR) 5-2jfav (10-5) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, chased winner before 2 out, ridden before last, no impression, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Evening Hush (10-5) at Exeter 2m 1f (4) sft in Nov.
Pleasure Dome 11-1 (8-13) Led, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 4th of 11, 5 3/4l behind Champagne Champ (9-7) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Rosa Damascena (FR) (9-2) 3rd of 16, 4 3/4l behind Al Wathna (9-2) at Cagnes-sur-Mer 1m 3f stks gd in Feb.
