disputed lead until overall leader after 3 out, soon hard ridden, stayed on well under pressure
held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 4 out, weakened next, pulled up 2 out
tracked leaders, under pressure approaching 6th, soon weakened
held up in rear, under pressure before 4th, soon beaten
held up in rear, headway after 4 out, chased leaders next, soon every chance, kept on same pace approaching 2 out
pulled hard, disputed lead until lost place after 3 out, no extra approaching last
detatched and raced wide of pack, headway 6th, in touch 4 out, weakening when blundered 2 out
pulled hard in touch, chased leaders approaching 3 out, soon under pressure and lost place
The form of NEWDANE DANCER's Wetherby bumper win hasn't been franked but Howard Johnson is sure to have given the four-year-old plenty of schooling and it would be no surprise if she made the most of the 16lb she receives from Alexander Road. Donald McCain's mare won on her second start over timber at Leicester but will find life tougher here under a penalty. Beat The Band was placed several times in bumpers but pulled up on her hurdles bow so more interesting is Lady Bluesky, who has won three times on the Flat and made a promising start over obstacles at Kelso in November.
Alexander Road (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Made most, hit 5th, ridden before last, stayed on strongly to draw clear run-in, eased near finish, won at Carlisle 2m 4f mares NH nov hdl (4) hvy beating Lua De Itapoan (11-0) by 7l, 12 ran.
Beat The Band 9-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, hit 8th, quickly pulled up after next, in a race won by Lastroseofsummer (10-5) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Nov, 8 ran.
Beau Peak 80-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear, struggling from 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Midnight Diamond (10-3) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Jan, 12 ran.
Heather Glen (IRE) 18-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, ridden 5f out, weakened well over 3f out, 5th of 9, well behind Zhakiera Spirit (11-10) at Newcastle 2m mrs N H flat (6) sft in Jan.
Kykate 33-1 (10-7) With leader, led over 5f out, driven and headed 2f out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 20l behind The Strawberry One (10-12) at Towcester 2m N H flat (5) gf in Apr.
Lady Bluesky 1-2fav (10-11) Tracked leaders and keen, settled into mid-division on outer, headway approaching 3 out, challenged next, led last, headed run-in, no extra and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Moscow Mischief (11-0) at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Politelysed 100-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear and raced wide, tailed off from 4 out, 11th of 13, well behind Bunclody (10-6) at Newcastle 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy.
Newdane Dancer (IRE) 5-1 (10-7) Soon close up, ridden over 3f out, challenged over 1f out, led entering final furlong, kept on, driven out, won at Wetherby 1m 5f fll 4yo N H flat (6) sft in Jan beating Doynosaur (11-3) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
