held up towards rear, headway 4 out, led 2 out, kept on well
mid-division, blundered badly 4th, kept on and never dangerous after
held up mid-division, weakened from 3 out
tracked leaders, pushed along before 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, weakened before 5th
tracked leader, ridden and weakened before 2 out
led, headed before 2 out, no extra and lost 2nd place run-in
tracked leader, challenged 3 out, every chance 2 out, kept on same pace
held up behind, weakened after 4 out
Richard Johnson was just beaten on board Verona Opera at Ayr in October and Stuart Crawford’s mare arrives off the back of a decent run in a Down Royal handicap. However, she’s had her chances and it would be no surprise if she found bumper winners APPY DAYS (NAP) and Princess Mononoke too hot to handle. The latter makes her hurdling debut but the former had a sighter at Taunton three weeks ago and takes on much weaker opposition today. Paper Roses started favourite at Kelso last month but unseated her rider at the last looking held at the time.
Appy Days (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Held up, off the pace, in 5th, modest 4th after 3 out, never on terms, 4th of 6, 28 1/2l behind Coillte Lass (11-2) at Taunton 2m lst (1) gd in Dec.
Caerleon Kate 66-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden in 9th and no impression entering straight, kept on one pace (shared 6th - failed to weigh-in), 6th of 16, 32 3/4l behind Calino D'airy (11-4) at Down Royal 2m mdn sft in Dec.
Insight (IRE) 150-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 5th, tailed off 3 out, left poor 5th approaching next, 5th of 8, dist behind Ruby Yeats (11-0) at Southwell 2m mdn (4) gs in Dec.
Maple Stirrup (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Slow into stride, towards rear, never a factor, 7th of 10, 11 3/4l behind Jan Smuts (9-3) at Newcastle 2m hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Overawed 20-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, weakened after 3 out, 10th of 14, dist behind Theatre Territory (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (4) gs in Dec.
Paper Roses (IRE) 11-8fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, in 3rd and one pace when jinked and unseated rider last, at Kelso 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Princess Mononoke (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 5f out until over 1f out, no extra, 3rd of 9, 7 3/4l behind Illwalktheline (11-11) at Newcastle 2m (6) sft in Jan.
Sophie Olivia (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 12, 23 1/4l behind Illwalktheline (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f (6) sft in Dec.
Verona Opera (IRE) 11-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, improved to challenge 3 out, ridden in 3rd 2 out, no impression last, kept on same pace run-in, 4th of 20, 3 1/4l behind Backinthesaddle (10-12) at Down Royal 2m hcp sft in Dec.
My Brown Eyed Girl 200-1 (10-7) In rear, pushed along 4 out, never dangerous, 6th of 8, 30l behind Allfredandnobell (11-0) at Wetherby 2m mdn (5) gs in Jan.
