chased leaders, lost place 4th, struggling 6th, plugged on into modest 4th run-in
held up, headway tracking leaders 5th, 2nd going well approaching 2 out, led and hit 2 out, came clear approaching last, stayed on well
led and disputed, outright leader 5th, hit 3 out, headed 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
raced wide, held up, headway approaching 6th, pushed along before 2 out, soon ridden, went 3rd before the last
raced wide, chased leaders, 2nd after 3 out until pushed along before before next, lost modest 3rd before the last, weakened run-in
chased leaders, pushed along before 6th, weakened before 2 out
held up in rear, never a factor, tailed off and eased after 3 out
led and disputed until 5th, chased leader until weakened quickly after 3 out, tailed off and eased after next
The claim of Conor Walsh on board Oscar Prairie might be crucial as his mount only just failed to hold subsequent winner Never Says Never on very heavy ground at Exeter. Dainty Diva gained an easy victory over slightly further here in October and was well supported to follow up a week later at Fakenham but completely failed to fire and finished tailed off. TICKITY BLEUE looked a nice prospect when dead-heating at Warwick two years ago but hasn't been seen on a racecourse subsequently. Alan King's grey wouldn't have been kept in training unless thought capable of winning races so she's handed a tentative vote. My Anchor, twice a winner on the Flat, has shown enough in two runs over hurdles to suggest he can get involved.
Oscar Prairie (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Tracked leader, led before 3 out, mistake 2 out, headed last, kept on and carried right run-in, held near finish, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Never Says Never (11-8) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Superciliary 16-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, lost place after 4th, soon behind, 6th of 8, dist behind Thunder Sheik (11-8) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Right Step 16-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, hit 2nd, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 15 1/2l behind Presenting Arms (11-11) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Tickity Bleue 11-4fav (10-12) Held up in last pair, mistake 3rd, headway approaching 5th, went 3rd before 7th, went 2nd and hit 3 out, led 2 out, wandered and joined last, ridden and stayed on flat, joined post, won at Warwick 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec beating Molly's A Diva (10-12), 6 ran.
Dainty Diva (IRE) Evensfav (11-6) Held up in touch, headway before 4 out on inner, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 8, dist behind Bowdler's Magic (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Kastani Beach (IRE) 28-1 (10-13) In touch, pushed along before 6th, reminders and struggling after next, 9th of 10, dist behind The Geegeez Geegee (11-3) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Mystery Drama 40-1 (11-5) Never better than mid-division, 16th of 17, dist behind Proofreader (11-7) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Ashkoun (FR) 7-2fav (11-2) Behind, headway before 3 out, pushed along after 2 out, kept on from last, 4th of 8, 5l behind The Kvilleken (10-7) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
My Anchor 66-1 (11-0) Tracked leading pair until 4 out, chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, left modest 4th next, 4th of 6, 12 1/2l behind Wishing And Hoping (11-5) at Ascot 2m (3) sft in Nov.
