led, blundered 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, joined 2 out, worn down and not much room towards finish
chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd, challenged 2 out, soon hung left, edged left flat, led towards finish
keen early, held up, closer order 6th, 4th and weakening when blundered last
chased leader to 3rd, ridden and taken wide after 3 out, beaten approaching last
in rear, mistake 4th, driven and struggling 6th
Gaspara stands out here and is selected ahead of Cream Cracker. The David Pipe-trained selection was a revelation last season, winning the Imperial Cup, the 'Fred Winter' at the Cheltenham Festival, and then finishing second at Grade One level at Aintree. She is the one they all have to beat. The Hexham novice hurdle winner, Artless, is progressive and could go well, while Annie's Answer has won four of her seven career starts, but the main danger to the selection could prove to be Cream Cracker, who ran well when finishing third in a Listed handicap last time. The selection, though, once again, is Gaspara.
Gaspara (FR) 11-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, mistake 5th, headway 6th, led 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Al Eile (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Annie's Answer (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Chased leader, led 4th to 3 out, weakened rapidly, 14th of 18, 36l behind Silver Charmer (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Artless (USA) 13-8 (10-10) Tracked leaders, led 3rd, quickened clear after next, driven and stayed on well flat, comfortably, won at Hexham 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Safari Run (11-5) by 6l, 7 ran.
Cream Cracker 20-1 (9-10) Mid-division, headway after 7th, ridden and led briefly after 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Don't Push It (10-8) at Chepstow 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Just Beware 18-1 (10-7) Held up last, ridden 3 out, weakened after, 7th of 13, 12l behind Backlash (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Oct.
