held up well in rear, struggling when mistake 4 out, modest 5th when mistake 3 out, blundered next, never a factor
raced wide, held up in last pair, headway tracking leading pair 3rd, 2nd after 4 out, taken wide in straight, no impression when lost 2nd 3 out, one pace, no chance with leading duo
tracked leader, led 4th, clear before 3 out and taken wide in straight, ridden and flashed tail between last 2, joine dlast, headed run-in, rallied gamely towards finish, just failed
tracked leaders, hit 4 out, 3rd after 4 out, kept to inside in straight, went 2nd 3 out, challenged last, led run-in, stayed on gamely near finish, all out
tracked leading trio until lost place slightly 3rd, ridden and went 4th after 4 out, never threatened
raced keenly, led until 4th, chased leader, hit 6th and 4 out, lost 2nd after 4 out, weakened quickly, tailed off and pulled up before next
Dame Rose made all to beat a decent mare over 2m here last time but whether she’ll be able to keep up the gallop over an extra half-mile must be open to debate. KILBRICKEN STORM (NAP) stayed on strongly to win a Grade 2 over 3m at Cheltenham last time so won’t be stopping here and a strong pace will play to his strengths. Poetic Rhythm ran in the Neptune Investment in March and has improved since his summer break, winning at Chepstow and finishing third in a Grade 2. Kempton scorer Way Back Then has untapped potential and so does Mulcahys Hill but this looks a big ask for the pair.
Dans Le Vent (FR) 8-11fav (10-12) Chased clear leader until 4th, close up, chased leader 4 out, led when not fluent 2 out, soon ridden and edged left, ridden and ran on, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f (4) gs in Nov beating Tayzar (10-12) by 6l, 10 ran.
Kilbricken Storm (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Held up, in touch 4th, went 2nd before 2 out, hanging left from before last, closed 150 yards out and still hanging, led final 80 yards, ended up of far side but well in command close home, won at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Dec beating Count Meribel (11-1) by 2 3/4l, 4 ran.
Mulcahys Hill (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Pressed leader, led 7th, driven and flashed tail flat, stayed on, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Nov beating Juge Et Parti (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Poetic Rhythm (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Tracked leader, led narrowly 4 out, headed narrowly last, ridden and every chance flat, kept on, not pace of winner closing stages, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind On The Blind Side (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gs in Nov.
Way Back Then (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Chased clear leader, left in lead after 6th, made rest, kept on under pressure run-in, won at Kempton 2m 5f (4) gd in Nov beating Secret Investor (10-12) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Dame Rose (FR) 5-1 (11-0) Made all and jumped well, set good pace, clear after 1st until given breather before 4th, went clear again well before 3 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Newbury 2m lst (1) gs in Dec beating Cap Soleil (11-3) by 9l, 6 ran.
