made all from sole rival, came up very long at the 8th (open ditch), clear before 2 out, canter
chased sole rival, not fluent 5th, hit 8th (open ditch), niggled along from 10th, hit 11th (water), well held before 2 out
MAESTRO ROYAL is jumping fences late in life but Nicky Henderson appears to have found the nine-year-old a good opportunity here if his jumping holds up. Rated 135 over hurdles, he should have too much pace for sole rival Ticket To Ride, who probably needs a lot further.
Maestro Royal 12-1 (10-12) Keen, always towards rear, never involved, 10th of 12, 19 1/4l behind Old Guard (11-12) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Ticket To Ride (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Held up in rear and mostly wide, headway into 4th after 2 out, no impression, 4th of 10, 13l behind Carole's Vigilante (11-5) at Hereford 2m 4f mdn (5) sft in Jan.