led, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, hit 4th headway on outer approaching 3 out, one pace from next
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out soon weakened
always behind, tailed off and blundered 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened next
held up and keen, never dangerous
held up in mid-divisiion, weakened after 4 out,
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out soon weakened
tracked leaders ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
always behind tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in mid-division, headway after 4 out, led 2 out, pushed clear last, easily
mid-division, behind from halfway tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
behind, ridden headway approaching 3 out, no impression after
mid-division, ridden and blundered 3 out, one pace and no impression from next
in touch ridden after 4 out, weakened next, behind when unseated rider last
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from next
Bollin Annabel gets the vote ahead of the other previous winner Show No Fear, with Rare Coincidence and newcomer Ursis worth a mention. In a field large in numbers but low in quality, most can be ruled out, and the winners should come from the short-list mentioned. Bollin Annabel was nothing special on the Flat, but seems to have taken well to hurdles, just as her dam did. Tim Easterby's filly was having only her second outing over timber when scoring comfortably at Haydock three weeks ago, coming from off the pace to settle the issue under David O'Meara who gets the leg up again today. She can make the most of the weight that she receives from Show No Fear who shoulders a penalty for his all-the-way win at Perth. A winner on the Flat for Henry Cecil in April, he may well have opened his account over timber at Cartmel earlier, had he not fallen when going well. Rare Coincidence was ostensibly a miler on the Flat but seemed to stay well enough in two starts over hurdles. In fact he was sent off as market leader at Newcastle last time and was only beaten a length at the finish. Ursis was a useful middle-distance performer in France and has been well entered up lately. He will handle the ground as well, so should make his presence felt on his British debut. Without being ultra-confident, we return to Bollin Annabel as the answer.
