lest in lead 1st and clear next, reduced lead when slow jumped 5th, driven and headed between last 2, soon no chance with easy winner
always last, well behind when hit 6th, continued tailed off
soon tracking clear leader, led on bit between last 2, drew well clear before last, heavily eased final 100 yards
keen hold, disputing 2nd place until pushed along 5th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, blundered 7th, driven and no chance after 2 out, tailed off
led at good pace until blundered and unseated rider 1st
Nike Walker surely just has to turn up to collect in the finale, with none of his rivals, Atlantis included, capable of stopping him. In boxing terms, the final race on the card has the appearance of a mis-match, with Nike Walker head-and-shoulders above the opposition on recent form. David Pipe's four-year-old shoulders a 7lb penalty after demolishing his opponents on his handicap debut at Market Rasen last week, and even with a penalty, he still looks ahead of the grader. It is no surprise then that connections turn him out here to supplement those gains, and it should be a case of money in the bank, with his ability to act on the ground not in question. Atlantis has been pulled up twice in his last three outings, and has topweight to boot, so the fact that Gary Moore's charge is put up as the danger reveals just how poor this contest is. That will not bother David Pipe though, and he looks all set to add another notch to his seasonal tally.
Atlantis (HOL) 5-1 (10-11) Towards rear, reminder 3rd, hit 6th, lost touch and pulled up 3 out in race won by Iris's Prince (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs, 16 ran.
Fellow Ship 66-1 (10-2) Always well in rear, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Zimbabwe (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo nov hdl (E) gd in Jan '04.
Nike Walker (FR) 4-1fav (11-3) Held up, headway 4th, led after 3 out, drew clear approaching last, easily, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl (5) sft beating Oiseau de Nuit (11-12) by 12l, 19 ran.
Sharp Rally (IRE) 22-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders, weakened after 4th, 9th of 12, 47l behind Star Double (11-5) at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Brilliant (GER) 50-1 (10-9) Held up, ridden to chase leading pair 2 out, weakened soon after, 7th of 14, 44l behind King's Revenge (11-0) at Lingfield 2m 4yo mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Spartan Encore 40-1 (10-9) Led, headed 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Our Jasper (10-7) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec, 12 ran.
