soon tracking leaders, outpaced approaching 3 out, headway approaching last, never able to challenge
led, mistake 7th, driven when headed 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, bad mistake 4th, every chance when bad mistake 2 out, soon lost place
chased leaders, jumped right 5th, every chance after 2 out, led just after last, hard ridden, all out
raced in rear, in touch, headway 3 out, soon every chance, led next, soon strongly challenged, headed just after last, kept on same pace
WIND SHUFFLE scored on his chasing debut at Ayr in January but didn't help his cause any by jumping left in heavy going at Carlisle last month and could only manage third. This return to a left-handed track and less testing ground should suit Jim Goldie's charge and he's preferred to Nine Stories. The latter just held off Viva Colonia to score over hurdles at Wetherby in November and makes his chasing debut here. Alfie Flits seems to have lost his way a little after winning here in November, while Hazeldene and Signalman look up against it.
Alfie Flits 7-1 (11-5) Led to 5th, remained close up, hit 9th, hit 2 out, soon lost place, rallied from last, went 2nd last 150 yards, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 22l behind Premier Sagas (11-5) at Kelso 2m 1f nov chs (2) sft in Feb.
Wind Shuffle (GER) 9-2 (11-4) Led and keen, jumped left throughout, headed approaching 3 out, every chance 2 out, weakened after last, 3rd of 5, 13l behind Cadoudalas (11-8) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) hvy in Feb.
Hazeldene 20-1 (11-5) Led to 4th, remained close up until ridden and weakened after 4 out, 8th of 13, 37l behind Santa's Son (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Feb.
Nine Stories (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Held up mid-division, headway 4th, led after 2 out, narrow lead and not fluent last, held on towards finish, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov beating Viva Colonia (10-10) by nk, 10 ran.
Signalman 10-1 (11-7) Towards rear, ridden 3 out, chased leaders and weakened flat, 5th of 10, 11l behind Corkage (11-11) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in May '09.