led, joined when ridden after 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, well held 3rd when fell last
tracked leader, ridden and weakened after 3 out when jumping right
held up, headway 5th, every chance 2 out, ridden and hung left under pressure soon after and one pace
tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden and ran on
keen mid-division, weakened after 4th and tailed off, bled from the nise
held up, jumped right from 4th, soon weakened
held up, jumped slowly 3rd, plugged on, left very poor 3rd last
It will be a shock if anything is able to beat NORDWIND here and the Evan Williams-trained runner is a confident choice to see off the debutant Palmerin, who should appreciate the ground. The selection was the very easy winner of a maiden hurdle at Fakenham last time when there was a bit of cut in the ground. Even so, the prevailing fast ground won't be a problem today as he has shown plenty of good form on it in the past, and he should be good enough to succeed in this, his follow up bid. Palmerin sees hurdles for the first time in public today and his only two career wins on the flat have been on the Polytrack and also on fast ground at Sandown. The latter success was over 10f, which is generally a distance that suggests a horse will stay this far over hurdles, and if the former Richard Hannon inmate runs to his ability then he could give the selection most to do. Not that there is too much else in opposition here, with Pilgrims Lane far from the forefront of the Ditcheat team but probably next best, and nothing else that we can make a case for. Nordwind can take the opener.
All Fun And Games (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, losing place when fell 2 out in race won by Cross Kennon (10-13) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl (5) sft, 18 ran.
Blue Tweed 150-1 (11-0) Prominent, ridden 6th, soon weakened and pulled up 3 out in race won by Carrickboy (11-3) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Feb, 12 ran.
Nordwind (IRE) 11-10fav (11-2) Held up, mid-division, good headway to chase leader 3 out, led 2 out, clear approaching last, comfortably, won at Fakenham 2m cnd mdn hdl (4) gs beating Night Orbit (10-11) by 7l, 11 ran.
Pilgrims Lane (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway 8th, effort approaching 4 out, weakened quickly, pulled up before last, 9th of 16, well behind Pride of Dulcote (11-0) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct.
Ron In Ernest 20-1 (11-7) A bhnd; t.o & pulled up in race won by The Humbel Monk (12-0) at Whitwick Manor 3m ptp gd in Feb, 18 ran.
Little Rococoa 66-1 (7-12) Held up in rear, ridden 5f out, weakened over 3f out, last of 10, 24l behind That'll Do Nicely (9-4) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs (Flat).
Palmerin 11-1 (9-4) Held up in touch, ridden, effort well over 1f out, not run on, beaten when slightly short of room, checked well inside final furlong, 9th of 12, 5l behind Wellington Square (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Dec (Flat).
