mid-division until weakened 6f out, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden and effort 4f out, weakened 2f out
in touch until halfway, soon tailed off
always prominent, led 7f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong
held up, headway over 6f, tracked leaders, ridden to challenge 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
behind from halfway, tailed off
led until 7f out, chased leaders, ridden and on pace from 2f out
chased leaders until 6f out, soon well behind
In a race where the betting should be viewed with interest, Valley Hall gets the nod ahead of Supreme Cara and, maybe, La Dame Brune. Having cost 28,000 guineas and being a Saddlers' Hall half-sister to Feathered Leader, Valley Hall catches the eye here and the betting should be viewed with interest. Sharp Storm's chance will also probably be best gauged from the betting, while Iron Maid's dam is from the same family as Teeton Mill but was cheaply acquired. Supreme Cara showed enough at Warwick last time to be given a good shout, while Gunner Getya certainly has something to like on breeding. Finally, the Nicky Henderson-trained La Dame Brune has shown enough to suggest that her chance is not a forlorn one, while Llys Y Fran's dam is related to plenty of winners but she was a cheap purchase. Overall, though, the vote stays with Valley Hall.
Gunner Getya Gunner B mare, half-sister to winning hurdler Brave Vision.
Iron Maid Shambo mare, half-sister to winning jumper Longshanks.
Sharp Storm 7-1 (11-2) pulled up in race won by Shanghai Noon (12-0) at Charing 2m 4f ptp gf in Mar '05, 5 ran.
Supreme Cara 66-1 (10-11) Chased leader, led over 6f out, ridden and headed over 3f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Ring Back (10-11) at Warwick 2m mrs nhf (6) hvy in Mar.
Valley Hall (IRE) Saddlers' Hall mare out of a lightly-raced maiden, half-sister to winning hurdler Oscar The Boxer.
West Bay Mist 100-1 (11-0) Always rear, struggling 10f out, tailed off final 7f, last of 16, well behind Ben's Turn (11-10) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs nhf (H) gs in Nov.
La Dame Brune (FR) 5-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden 5f out, weakened over 4f out, 10th of 14, 9l behind Don Castille (11-0) at Stratford 2m mdn nhf (4) gs in Mar.
Llys Y Fran Alphabatim filly out of an unraced mare.
