held up in 5th, closer tracking leaders 4 out, travelling well in 3rd before next, close 2nd and carried left next, led last, pushed clear run-in, reduced lead near finish, always doing enough
always last, weakened and no chance from 4 out, tailed off
tracked leader, hit 2nd, led on long run before 3 out, ridden headed last, rallied near finish but always held
led, pushed along and headed on long run before 3 out, weakened soon after
tracked leaders and raced wide, went 2nd on long run before 3 out until approaching next, ridden and one pace in 3rd between last 2
raced on inside, tracked leading pair, hit 3rd, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, soon weakened
The winner of 11 of her 25 career starts, the admirable Lady Buttons reverts to hurdles having won twice over fences since making a winning reappearance at Wetherby. She beat IRISH ROE on the latter occasion but Peter Atkinson’s mare, who was just beaten by an odds-on chance in this last year, is 4lb better off and enjoys a 10lb turnaround in the weights than when behind the four-year-old Chica Buena in a handicap at Musselburgh at the start of the month. Indian Opera only won a maiden at Musselburgh and has been racing over further but Indefatigable ran well in a Listed race at Taunton and winning easily at Uttoxeter and is on an upward curve.
Lady Buttons Evensfav (11-0) Chased leaders, left 3rd 9th, not fluent and went 2nd from 5 out, led going well 3 out, allowed to drift right last, pushed out and idling flat, won at Doncaster 2m 5f lst (1) gd in Dec beating Rene's Girl (11-2) by 3 3/4l, 5 ran.
Cold Fusion (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, weakened 3 out, 6th of 8, dist behind Printing Dollars (11-0) at Exeter 2m 7f mdn (5) gs in Jan.
Indefatigable (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Raced wide, chased winner throughout, pushed along before 2 out, 2 lengths down and held after 2 out, hit last, plugged on same pace, not pace to challenge, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Posh Trish (11-7) at Taunton 2m lst (1) gs in Dec.
Indian Opera 11-8 (10-13) Made all soon 10 lengths clear, increased lead halfway, still well clear 3 out, eased flat, unchallenged, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Jan beating Real Armani (11-6) by 35l, 5 ran.
Irish Roe (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 9, 17 3/4l behind Normal Norman (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Chica Buena (IRE) 5-2fav (10-7) Tracked leaders, challenged inside 3 out, every chance when short of room approaching next, led last, headed flat, kept on, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Normal Norman (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) gd in Jan.
