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Less than a week to go until the Festival, so superstar horses are currently slim pickings at the races.

However on Saturday at Doncaster, a few nice mares were able to compete for blacktype in calmer waters, and it proved a thrilling race to watch, writes Page Fuller.

It was heartbreak for Stuart Crawford’s runner-up, Ottizzini, who threw her chances away jumping violently right handed throughout. To put numbers on it, she was only beaten half a length, but gave away over eight lengths to the winner, Pinot Rouge, through her jumping throughout the race.

Even at the last hurdle she conceded a whole length to the winner. Frustrating stuff for her connections, but she proved that back right handed, she could take another step forward again on what she’s shown so far.