tracked leader, headway and effort 3f out, one pace 2f out, beaten over 1f out
led, driven 3f out, headed 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
held up 3rd and last, smooth headway on outside over 3f out, led 2f out, drew clear on bit over 1f out, very easily
Abidjan has won a bumper in France but that form is hard to assess as he makes his debut for the Nicholls yard. MIDNIGHT SHOT has gone close in both starts in bumpers at Market Rasen and then Aintree last month and Charlie Longsdon's charge gets the nod on the strength of that form. Dean's Walk is more exposed but posted his best effort so far at Sedgefield and is preferred to the returning Along Came Theo, who was due to run at Market Rasen yesterday.
Abidjan (FR) (10-1) won at Moulins(FR) 1m 4f 3yo nhf gd in Aug '13 beating Alto Conti (10-1) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Dean's Walk (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, led over 3f out, headed over 1f out, kept on and always well held, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Professor Plum (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs in Oct.
Midnight Shot 4-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway 1f out, stayed on well to take 3rd place towards finish, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Globalisation (11-0) at Aintree 2m 1f NH flat (4) gd in Oct.
Along Came Theo (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Held up in mid-division, pushed along in 5th 4f out, kept on same pace final 3f, 5th of 11, 16l behind One Track Mind (10-13) at Wetherby 2m NH flat (6) gs in Apr.
