always behind
mid-division, headway to chase winner 4 out, ridden 2 out, soon lost place, weakened flat
held up in rear, headway 4 out, went 2nd when not fluent last, soon ridden, kept on flat, no impression
chased winner to 4 out, ridden and outpaced 2 out, kept on under pressure flat, no impression
always behind, lost touch 3 out, pulled up before last
mid-division when mistake, unseated rider 1st
made all, ridden approaching last, stayed on well flat
behind, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, one pace and no impression approaching last
mid-division when blundered, unseated rider 6th
in touch, disputing 4th when fell 9th
mid-division on inside, close up 6th, ridden and lost place 8th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
Ornella Speed gets a narrow vote over the likes of Bellaney Jewel and Miss Pross, with Seeking Shelter and Calomeria also making for an interesting contest. Ornella Speed benefited from a break to open her account over fences in fine style at Hexham in November, and since that victory Patrick McDonald has kept the ride. The duo finished second over hurdles here 16 days ago, and although not as well treated over the bigger obstacles, that course form should stand the selection in good stead, and as long as they do not go too much of a crawl in the testing conditions, she can nail them on the run-in. Miss Pross duly made a winning start over fences here a fortnight ago and should not have a problem with the step back up in trip from the minimum. She goes on the ground as well and rates a danger along with Bellaney Jewel who is impeccably-bred for the game being by Roselier out of a daughter of The Parson. She may need more time but is worth keeping on the right side of. Seeking Shelter hails from a stable that is patience personified and she will have been well schooled, while Ginger McCain is bowing out in fine style and Tony Dobbin rides his mare Calomeria rather than Seeking Shelter. All in all, this could turn out to be a fairly informative affair, and one in which Ornella Speed is the pick.
Celtic Blaze (IRE) 66-1 (9-8) Led, headed before 6th, chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 15, 30l behind Texas Holdem (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Jan.
Miss Pross 7-1 (10-6) Held up, headway 3 out, stayed on to lead last, ridden and ran on flat, won at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft beating Red Man (10-9) by 5l, 9 ran.
Ornella Speed (FR) 10-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway approaching 7th, joined leaders 3 out, every chance next, soon ridden, kept on from last, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Sabreflight (11-8) at Sedgefield 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Bellaney Jewel (IRE) 7-2 (10-11) Led to 13th, soon ridden to chase winner, outpaced when hit 4 out and next, soon beaten, 3rd of 6, 27l behind Hot Weld (10-13) at Musselburgh 3m beg chs (4) gf.
Scratch The Dove 16-1 (11-8) Behind, headway approaching 15th, weakened before next, 7th of 16, 24l behind Rosetown (10-1) at Ludlow 3m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Jan.
Seeking Shelter (IRE) 10-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd at 9th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on from last, 3rd of 15, 4 1/2l behind Caesar's Palace (11-9) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Calomeria 15-2 (11-7) Prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 11, 9l behind Proprioception (10-8) at Southwell 2m mrs hcp hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Sports Express 16-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, lost place 6th, behind when pulled up at the 7th in race won by Rathowen (11-7) at Newcastle 3m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 8 ran.
