raced wide held up, hit 4th, headway to chase winner before 2 out until bend approaching last, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, effort to chase winner bend approaching last, kept on one pace
made all, shaken up 2 out, soon in command, readily
with winner until ridden 3 out, soon weakened
in rear, hit 6th, ridden 4 out, never on terms
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, plugged on same pace
in rear, pushed along 4th, behind from 4 out
CLEAN SHEET split a couple of subsequent Grade 2 winners on his hurdling debut at Sandown but had to battle to get off the mark at Newbury on his next start. However, he's still learning the game and there should be plenty more to come from Oscar gelding. Chidswell is well regarded but has been beaten twice since scoring at Ayr in October, though his Newcastle third couldn't have worked out any better and he's a danger to the selection. Acertain Circus won a maiden hurdle over 2m here last month but this looks a lot tougher and Alan King's pair, Tiger Feat and King Louis, may need more time.
Acertain Circus 5-2 (10-12) Held up, awkward 2nd, headway 5th, chased leading pair approaching last, ridden when led flat, won at Fakenham 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan beating Benissimo (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Chidswell (IRE) 4-6fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, every chance last, no extra, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Five In A Row (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Clean Sheet (IRE) 6-5fav (11-0) Took keen hold early, held up in 5th, hit 3rd, headway into 4th soon after 3 out, on heels of leaders when blundered 2 out, rallied under pressure run-in, went 2nd 100 yards out, led post, won at Newbury 2m hdl (4) gs in Dec beating Seven Nation Army (11-0) by shd, 11 ran.
Battleship Boy (IRE) Kaieteur gelding out of Battle On.
Tiger Feat 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, reminders after 4 out, weakened after next, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind St Johns Point (10-12) at Towcester 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Top Man Marty (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Led or disputed lead to 4f out, soon outpaced, no impression in 4th final 2f, 4th of 10, 19l behind Ballyhenry (10-12) at Warwick 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
King Louis 7-1 (10-7) Mid-division, pushed along 4f out, one pace in 5th and no impression final 2f, 5th of 11, 18l behind Church Leap (10-4) at Lingfield 2m NH flat (6) std in Jan.
