raced wide close up, tracked leader 4th, led 2 out, ridden and ran on
prominent, led 3rd, not fluent next, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened next
close up, chased leaders 3 out, ridden and kept on one pace
led, headed 3rd, in rear next, tailed off
in touch towards rear, hit 3 out, not trouble leaders
in touch, headway 3 out, ridden next, kept on one pace
NonRunner
Nietzsche has been here three times and won them all. His latest success came in a Listed handicap over fences at Ayr in April but he has no problems reverting to hurdles. Mick Maestro had been racing in much better company before scoring here last month and a 5lb rise is manageable. However, he only just beat KANNAPOLIS (NAP) at Doncaster in November and the latter will be 15lb better off at the weights so should have no trouble reversing the form. Timberman has won half of his last six races, all on good ground, so the recent rain won't have been welcome but Brian Hughes was on board when First Impression won at Wetherby and the champion elect takes the ride again.
Mick Maestro (FR) 3-1 (11-9) Raced wide, chased leaders, not fluent 1st, steadied next, closed 3rd, left in lead 6th, headed 7th, led 2 out, not fluent last, edged left flat, comfortably, won at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Jan beating Golfe Clair (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Kannapolis (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Prominent, pushed along approaching 2 out, ridden before last, stayed on well flat, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Rowland Ward (11-5) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
First Impression (IRE) 10-1 (9-10) Raced wide tracked leader, pushed along to lead 2f out, ridden and headed entering final furlong, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 4 3/4l behind Dingle (9-8) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Nietzsche 15-2 (10-13) Held up, pushed along from 5 out in rear, headway under pressure 3 out, kept on well from last to go 2nd, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Amour de Nuit (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Tonto's Spirit 9-2 (11-6) Led until not fluent 3rd, not fluent 4th, mistake 9th, soon lost 2nd, weakened before omitted last, last of 5, 15 1/2l behind El Borracho (10-11) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Gennady (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Led into start, always well behind, 5th of 6, 24 1/2l behind Fugitives Drift (11-4) at Cartmel 2m 1f (4) gd in May.
Saint Arvans (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Towards rear, reminders after 4th, ridden before 3 out, soon lost touch and pulled up, at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Timberman (IRE) 2-1fav (11-1) Held up well in rear, headway 2 out, led soon after, eased towards finish(only 6 hurdles jumped, all hurdles omitted in back straight), won at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Paso Doble (11-8) by 5l, 7 ran.
