Verdict

Midnight Mary won this last year but is 11lb higher have gone on to score twice at Fakenham at the start of the year. She’s also returning from a break and having a first run for a new yard today. Nora The Xplorer is another who will have to defy an absence but she is still relatively unexposed over this trip. Shighness made a winning start in handicaps at Market Rasen but RAE DES CHAMPS gets the nod. She is having her first try over 3m under Rules but has won a point and wasn’t stopping over 2m4f at Newcastle on her reappearance. Doireann was only headed at the last at Fakenham but this looks a better race while a further 4lb rise could scupper the hat-trick bid of Miss Milano.

Formwatch

Nora The Xplorer 5-1 (11-0) Held up, not fluent 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, ridden to press leader briefly last, soon outpaced and no extra flat, 3rd of 6, 14 1/4l behind Liffeydale Dreamer (10-7) at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in May.

Miss Milano (IRE) 11-8fav (12-0) Chased leaders, not fluent 3 out, pushed along before 2 out where not fluent, soon went 2nd, hung left approaching last, edged left run-in, switched right and stayed on well to lead closing stages, won at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Your Place (10-6) by 1l, 6 ran.

Rae Des Champs (IRE) 11-4 (11-9) Mid-division on inside, pushed along and made no impression 2 out, stayed on from last, 4th of 9, 6l behind Starlyte (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.

Shighness 9-2 (11-8) Chased leaders, mistake 9th, led before 2 out, clear flat, stayed on, won at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Storm Force One (10-2) by 8l, 5 ran.

Fiadh (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Mid-division, pushed along and struggling home turn, tailed off, 8th of 10, 37 1/4l behind The Raven's Return (11-3) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Apr.

Makety 15-2 (11-11) Prominent, fell 1st, at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Nov.

Hellfire Princess 22-1 (11-2) Chased leader, pushed along and weakened rapidly 4 out, pulled up before last, at Hereford 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Nov.

Doireann (IRE) 3-1 (11-1) Jumped right at times, led until before last, remained with every chance until held close home, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Secret Trix (11-4) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp (5) gs in Nov.

Midnight Mary 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, joined leader 8th, led next, headed 3 out, tracked leader, ridden and lost 2nd last, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Bobbie The Dazzler (10-0) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp (5) sft in Mar.