tracked easy winner, pushed along and no impression 2 out
made all, jumped left at times, clear approaching last, comfortable
THECLOCKISTICKING has won twice over timber and been competing at a high level. He wasn't beaten far when favourite for a Class 2 Cheltenham handicap last month and has a chasing pedigree. Winning point-to-pointer Piri Massini made a successful hurdling debut on heavy going here in January. All of his subsequent starts were on testing ground and he didn't make the expected improvement. Len Brennan showed little between the flags or in a bumper but did a bit better over hurdles at Stratford last month and his pedigree is all about jumping fences.
Len Brennan (IRE) 28-1 (11-6) In touch in mid-division, went 3rd after 3 out, outpaced after next, stayed on flat, no impression on winner, closing on 2nd close home, 3rd of 8, 4 1/4l behind Dandolo Du Gite (11-6) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Theclockisticking (IRE) 11-2fav (11-10) Prominent, ridden after 2 out, 3rd last, kept on, dropped to 4th flat, 4th of 20, 4 1/4l behind The Mighty Don (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Piri Massini (IRE) 4-7fav (11-7) Close up in 3rd, tracked winner 5th, shaken up to challenge on long run to 2 out, soon ridden, 3 lengths down last, edged left flat, kept on same pace, always held, 2nd of 4, 4 1/2l behind Behindthelines (11-1) at Newcastle 3m (4) hvy in Apr.
