led, headed 9th, weakened quickly, pulled up before 11th
tracked leaders, ran on well to lead flat, driven out (no official time taken due to bad visibility)
held up in touch, took closer order after 10th, ridden at 4 out, weakened next
held up in touch, headway 8th, ridden after 4 out, weakened 2 out
tracked leader, led approaching 9th, kept on but no extra when headed flat
This looks to be another straight shoot-out between Pipe and Nicholls, with the latter's Wild Knight taken to prove too smart for Zeta's River. Wild Knight landed a bumper at Chepstow in October 2002 but failed to score over hurdles. However, he did shape like a winner waiting to happen on a couple of occasions and has been well schooled over fences since his last outing in April. He makes a bit more appeal than Zeta's River who departed four out behind Thisthatandtother at Bangor on his debut recently, and who, being by Over The River, will probably need a big step up in trip this season. His lack of experience is a worry, and he should play second fiddle to Wild Knight, with Red Socialite the only other to make appeal. He has done a lot of schooling over fences and in turn makes more appeal than the once useful Kings Castle who has a very long absence to overcome. With One Nation having shown little in the past, we return to Wild Knight as the answer.
