chased leader until after 5th, chased leading pair, 2nd again after next until 3 out, ridden and weakened on long run before next, finished tired, tailed off
waited with in 5th, closer at 5th, went 2nd and plenty to do 3 out, closed quickly to challenge next, led before last, nudged easily clear run-in
led, went clear before 3 out, reduced lead and joined next, headed before the last, finished tired, no chance with winner
held up in last pair, mistake 5th, headway chasing leaders next, weakened on long run after 3 out, tailed off
took keen hold, struggling 3rd, always in rear, tailed off and pulled up after 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 4 out where mistake, lost 2nd soon after and weakened before next, tailed off
chased leaders, mistake reminder and lost place 4th, tailed off and pulled up after next
Westbrook Bertie is penalised for an earlier course and distance success and has been beaten subsequently albeit in a higher grade than this. Flaminger has placed in a bumper but struggled at Kempton on his hurdling bow while the remainder with experience over timber have yet to threaten though Verbitude ran well enough at Lingfield before fading away in the closing stages. CHRISTOPHER WOOD has switched to Paul Nicholls’ yard recently having won twice on the Flat and is rated higher than Westbrook Bertie in that code. He’s a half-brother to a winning hurdler and may well prove good enough on his hurdling bow.
Westbrook Bertie 6-4fav (10-12) Reluctant to line up, well away and raced keenly, led until headed and hit 2 out, ridden and stayed on same pace after, 2nd of 4, 2 1/2l behind Prabeni (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (2) gd in Jan.
Christopher Wood (IRE) 7-2 (9-4) Towards rear, headway on wide outside over 2f out, ridden inside final 2f, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 13, 7 1/2l behind Secret Return (8-13) at Windsor 1m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Flaminger (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Pulled hard, headway into 3rd place after 2nd, led briefly 3 out, weakened before 2 out, last of 5, 24 1/4l behind Vlannon (10-12) at Kempton 2m (4) gd in Jan.
Kenny George 50-1 (10-12) Prominent, tracked leader after 2nd, jumped slowly next and lost place, ridden and weakened 4 out, tailed off, last of 8, dist behind Belargus (10-12) at Ascot 2m (3) gs in Jan.
Noble Saffron 100-1 (10-5) Raced keenly, tracked leader 2nd, led 5th until before 3 out, chased leaders, weakened 3 out, 5th of 9, dist behind Baddesley Knight (11-2) at Plumpton 2m (4) gd in Jan.
Verbitude (IRE) 25-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, headed before next, weakened before last, 6th of 14, 22l behind Emitom (11-8) at Lingfield 2m (4) gs in Jan.
Dragon Tattoo (IRE) 100-1 (10-0) Always in rear, mistake 1st, tailed off 4 out, 9th of 12, dist behind Brandon Castle (11-6) at Plumpton 2m (4) sft in Dec.
