mid-division, mostly raced wide, not fluent and lost place 3 out, soon well beaten, stayed on flat, no impression
prominent, ridden and lost place before 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
in touch in mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden after 2 out, 5th and one pace last
held up towards rear, mistake 7th, well beaten after 3 out, tailed off
led, not fluent 5th, headed after 2 out, weakened before last, tailed off
held up in rear, headway on inside 2 out, went 2nd last, ridden and every chance flat, unable to quicken, no impression towards finish
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, ridden and one pace in 6th before last
mid-division, headway after 3 out, went 2nd briefly before last, stayed on flat
held up in rear, ridden and struggling after 7th , no impression
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake 6th, effort after 3 out, weakened after next
tracked leaders, pushed along 7th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
in touch in mid-division, closed 3 out, ridden after 2 out, 4th and one pace last
tracked leaders, lost place before 3rd, niggled along next, ridden and closed 3 out, challenged next, soon led, pressed flat, found more and drew away towards finish
tracked leaders on inside, lost place after 3 out, weakened next
soon prominent, jumped slowly 2nd, ridden after 2 out, weakened approaching last
prominent, not fluent 4th, ridden and lost place before 2 out, no chance when bad mistake last, pulled up flat
Kells Belle won this last year under a similar burden and the stable also landed the prize in 2011 but the top weight has been well below par this term. Tweedledrum looks to be in the handicapper's grip now and stable companion Scholastica has gone up 4lb since finishing second at Uttoxeter, but Loyaute and Big Time Billy both arrive off the back of recent wins and have claims while Prima Porta had Kaffie and Cloudy Spirit behind when sixth to the mighty Quevaga at The Festival and can't be ignored. Baby Shine was fifth in a competitive handicap at Aintree earlier this month and is another to consider but ELEVEN FIFTY NINE looked to be crying out for a step up in distance when scrambling home at Doncaster last time and she's a lot less exposed than most of these. Anthony Honeyball's mare gets the nod.
Kells Belle (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Prominent, ridden and hampered after 2 out, weakened before last, 8th of 23, 29l behind Salubrious (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Conditional Handicap Hurdle (0-145) (4yo+) (2) sft in Mar.
Hi Note 25-1 (10-11) Led, headed before 2 out, no extra and lost 3rd place towards finish, 4th of 11, 12l behind Court Minstrel (10-8) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl (2) gs in Mar.
Baby Shine (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway when hampered badly after 4 out, stayed on same pace from next, 5th of 21, 23l behind Battle Group (10-9) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd.
Prima Porta 40-1 (11-0) Behind until driven and kept on from 2 out, never nearer, 6th of 19, 8l behind Quevega (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) sft in Mar.
Kaffie 10-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, weakened between last two, 8th of 12, 11l behind Regal Presence (9-11) at Ascot 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Cloudy Spirit 100-1 (11-0) Mid-division on outside, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 12th of 19, 24l behind Quevega (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) sft in Mar.
Eleven Fifty Nine 1-4fav (11-2) Held up in rear, headway before 4 out, chased leader last, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Doncaster 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Jan beating Definite Ruby (11-5) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Tempest River (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, tailed off before 2 out, last of 8, 33l behind Ma Filleule (11-0) at Warwick 2m 3f hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Tweedledrum 16-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, pushed along 6th, stayed on from 2 out, never any chance with leaders, 5th of 13, 21l behind Oscar Magic (11-2) at Haydock 2m 4f Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-135) (4-8yo) (3) gs in Mar.
Scholastica 5-4fav (11-12) Mid-division, headway on inside 4th, ridden when mistake 3 out, went 2nd when hit last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Dirty Deal (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Feb.
Wild Rhubarb 33-1 (10-12) With leader, blundered 6th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, pulled up, in a race won by Knockfierna (10-12) at Kempton 3m mrs lst hdl (1) sft in Nov, 8 ran.
Loyaute (FR) 11-8 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led after 2 out (usual 3 out), drew clear on bit on long run between last 2, eased flat, very easily, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) sft in Mar beating Emerald Rose (11-0) by 24l, 10 ran.
Big Time Billy (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 9th, led 3 out, driven clear approaching last, ran on strongly, won at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd beating Occasionally Yours (11-1) by 17l, 8 ran.
My Legal Lady 80-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, jumped left 1st, tracked leader, not fluent 6th, weakened approaching 2 out, left 4th last, 4th of 6, 40l behind Utopie Des Bordes (11-2) at Sandown 2m 4f mares listed nov hdl (1) hvy in Feb.
Lastchanceforlisa (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Took keen hold, mistake 1st, chased leaders, went 2nd 4th, led narrowly 3 out, strongly pressed from next, edged left flat, held on gamely, all out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Apr '12 beating Mollyow (10-3) by hd, 9 ran.
Detour Ahead 18-1 (10-7) Towards rear, headway over 8f out, went 2nd over 5f out until over 3f out, one pace, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Natural Spring (11-3) at Southwell 2m Mares Nat Hunt Flat (AWT) (4yo+) (4) std in Mar.
