tracked leader, led before 3 out, flattened 3 out, joined next, ridden and headed before last, stayed on same pace run-in, no chance with easy winner
raced keenly, held up in last pair and raced on inside, awkward 4 out, switched left before next, hung left and weakened before next, hit 2 out, went remote 3rd towards finish
raced on inside, tracked leaders in 3rd, outpaced and no chance from 3 out, lost remote 3rd towards finish
tracked leaders, 2nd before 3 out, led travelling well before last, came readily clear run -in, easily
held up last, pushed along before 4 out, ridden and weakened before next, tailed off
led at good pace and soon clear, reduced lead when headed and weakened quickly before 3 out, tailed off
Irish Roe finished second in this last year only to be demoted later following a BHA inquiry. She only had a neck to spare over Floressa but is 2lb better off and looked to be on her way back when second in a jumpers’ bumper recently. Floressa had Marie's Rock well behind on her reappearance at Newbury and Nico de Boinville now switches to the top weight, who later ran fourth in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. Rayna's World usually runs well but struggles to get her head in front while Sopat looks out of her depth. MIRANDA (NAP) has won half of her eight hurdles starts and a step up in grade has been overdue. She’s been running well in handicaps and this looks a good opportunity to improve her strike-rate.
Floressa (FR) 22-1 (11-0) Chased winner until after 2nd, chased leaders, went 2nd again before next until before 4 out, weakened before next, plugged on, 4th of 5, 15 1/4l behind Silver Streak (11-7) at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Dec.
Marie's Rock (IRE) 2-1fav (11-5) Pulled hard tracking leaders on inside, hit 6th and stumbled, mistake 3 out, hung left and wandered approaching next, looked beaten when hampered soon after, 7th of 9, 12 1/4l behind Floressa (11-5) at Newbury 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Irish Roe (IRE) 3-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway over 3f out, tracking leaders over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, went 2nd and stayed on inside final furlong, not trouble winner, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Snookered (11-4) at Newcastle 2m (4) pol in Jan.
Miranda (IRE) 5-2cfav (11-10) Held up behind leaders, not fluent 4th, mistake 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on final 100 yards, just failed to get 3rd, 4th of 7, 1 1/4l behind Blakeney Point (10-6) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Rayna's World (IRE) 15-8fav (11-0) Held up, pushed along briefly 5th, in rear but in touch 4 out, ridden after 3 out, headway to chase leader 2 out, led narrowly approaching last, headed on landing, kept on but could not match winner, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Nada To Prada (11-0) at Haydock 2m 3f lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Sopat (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Bit keen, led after 1st and set strong pace, went right 3rd, clear after 3 out, hit next, ridden home turn, about 1 length ahead last, went clear run-in, won at Fakenham 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan beating Ripper Roo (11-5) by 2l, 14 ran.
