chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd, led 9th, headed and not fluent 2 out, switched right soon after last, led and edged left flat, stayed on well
held up on outside, closed 6th, challenged 9th, led 2 out, faltered, edged left and headed flat, soon switched right, no impression towards finish
held up behind leaders, pecked 1st, outpaced 9th, not fluent 4 out, no impression
led until slow 9th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 7th, headway 9th, outpaced 3rd before 2 out, weakened into 4th flat
chased leader until 3rd, hit 10th, jumped left and outpaced in 4th 3 out, well held after, plugged on and went 3rd flat
Hawthorn Cottage is the senior runner in this but got back to winning ways at Market Rasen last month. Doyannie has only won a Class 5 so far and is a long way out of the handicap with Lost Connections 19lb wrong in the weights thanks to the declaration of Exeter Listed winner Pink Legend. FORTUNES MELODY usually races over further but her style of racing suggests she could be refreshed by a drop back in distance and Ben Bromley’s claim is in her favour. Royale Margaux had useful chase form in France but would need to improve on her fourth at Ascot to land this.
Pink Legend 33-1 (11-2) Led, jumped left 2nd, headed 9th, soon switched right, mistake 10th, led before 3 out, headed 2 out, 3rd and no impression flat, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Impervious (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Mar.
Royale Margaux (FR) 22-1 (10-12) Raced keenly in mid-division out wide, headway chasing leaders before 8th, went 2nd 4 out, led after next, headed before the last, ridden and weakened run-in, 4th of 9, 8 3/4l behind Black Gerry (11-3) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Fortunes Melody 10-3 (12-0) Tracked leader, every chance 4 out, ridden next, weakened approaching last, 4th of 6, 20 3/4l behind La Renommee (11-9) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Hawthorn Cottage (IRE) 9-4 (11-4) Jumped well, made all, pushed along 2 out, ridden flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Mar beating Whatsdastory (11-2) by 2 1/4l, 4 ran.
Doyannie (IRE) 13-8fav (11-12) Pulled hard, held up, not much room 2nd, good headway tracking leaders 9th, went 2nd 3 out, dropped to 3rd between last two, no extra, 3rd of 6, 8 1/4l behind Ramore Will (11-3) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Lost Connections (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Towards rear, ridden and weakened 3 out (normal 4 out), tailed off, 5th of 8, dist behind Flowing Cadenza (10-7) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
