mid-division until weakened after 7th
led until after 3rd, with leader, every chance approaching 3 out, ridden and soon weakened
held up in touch, headway 5th, led after 7th, headed and hit 2 out, soon no chance with winner
always towards rear, tailed off after 7th, pulled up before last
hampered 1st, held up, headway approaching 5th to track leaders, led on bit 2 out, hit last, canter
always towards rear
held up, lost touch from 7th
prominent, every chance approaching 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
took keen hold, tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, soon led, hit 4th, blundered 6th, headed after 7th, weakened
hampered 1st, behind when jumped badly left, unseated rider 3rd
Nippy Des Mottes should come on a bundle for his outing over course and distance last month and is taken to go one better with Flying Fuselier and Stoop To Conquer rated the main dangers. Most of the horses from the yard of Paul Nicholls have improved for their first start of the campaign and Nippy Des Mottes probably would not need to find a great deal of improvement, if any, to beat these. Spring Junior has shown promise in two starts in bumpers and could be of interest, while Wishin And Hopin ran in the Aintree bumper at the Grand National meeting that has thrown up plenty of winners. Lady Percy was nothing out of the ordinary on the level and, like Charlie Swan's Galteemountain Boy, is probably best watched. Flying Fuselier lost no caste in defeat behind the potentially useful Refinement on his hurdling debut and makes more appeal than Stoop To Conquer, who has yet to convince over timber. Nippy Des Mottes has obvious claims though and he gets the vote.
Baron Blitzkrieg 50-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, behind from 5th, bad mistake 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Cetti's Warbler (10-7) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (E) sft in Dec '03, 12 ran.
Flying Fuselier 20-1 (11-0) With leader, bumped 2nd and 3rd, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, jumped left last, not quicken flat, 3rd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Refinement (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (E) gs in Oct.
Galteemountain Boy (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Always behind, mistake 6th, tailed off, last of 15, well behind The Spoonplayer (11-9) at Listowel 2m 4f mdn hdl gd in Sept.
Life Estates 50-1 (10-7) Held up and always towards rear, 6th of 8, 34l behind Boychuk (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (E) frm in Oct.
Nippy Des Mottes (FR) 11-4jt-fav (11-8) Held up towards rear, smooth headway 3 out, switched left after 2 out, every chance last, no extra close home, 2nd of 14, nk behind Don't Ask Me (10-1) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gs in Oct.
Phazar 33-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, some headway over 4f out, kept on, 9th of 17, 13l behind Moorlands Return (11-4) at Kempton 2m nhf (H) gs in Feb '04.
Russian Lord (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, hit 2nd, weakened 7th, 12th of 17, well behind Bagan (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (D) gd in Jan.
Spring Junior (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Led 6f, remained in touch, led over 5f out until over 3f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 18, 11l behind Nocivo (11-0) at Worcester 2m nhf (H) gd in May.
Stoop To Conquer 2-1fav (10-12) Held up, mistake 2nd, pushed along after 5th, ridden after next, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Irish Legend (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hdl (E) gs in Feb, 13 ran.
Wishin And Hopin 100-1 (10-12) Started slowly, held up, stayed on final 2f, never dangerous, 14th of 22, 21l behind The Cool Guy (10-11) at Aintree 2m 1f nhf Grd 2 (A) gs in Apr.
Lady Percy 8-1 (8-6) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 12l behind Beauchamp Ribbon (8-6) at Bath 1m 4f 3yo & 4yo sll (G) frm in Aug '03 (Flat).
