tracked leaders in 3rd, led after 3 out, fell when being hard pressed 2 out
in rear, headway 3 out, challenging on bit when left in lead 2 out, kept on well
led, pushed along and headed after 3 out, left in 3rd from 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked leader, pushed along before 2 out, left 2nd from 2 out, kept on and held run-in
Nicky Richards has won this twice in the last four years and One For Harry was second to Top Notch last year. The nine-year-old won a handicap at Wetherby last month but, like 12 months ago, has a bit to find with a couple of these on official ratings. Cyrus Darius won a Grade 2 at Aintree in 2015 and is sure to have benefited from his reappearance at Haydock but there is still a question mark about whether he’s worthy of a mark of 145. BORN SURVIVOR is rated only 2lb lower and ran three solid race in handicap company before the turn of the year. This is probably on the short side but it’s a stiff track and old Knockara Beau is unlikely to be hanging about at the front end.
Born Survivor (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, good headway on inside tracking leaders travelling well approaching 2 out, 3rd hanging left between last two, kept on same pace, 3rd of 14, 6 1/2l behind Theligny (10-4) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Cyrus Darius 16-1 (11-4) Held up in touch and keen, mistake 3rd, held in 4th from 3 out, 4th of 5, 25 3/4l behind The New One (11-12) at Haydock 2m (1) sft in Jan.
Knockara Beau (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Prominent until 3rd, tracked leaders, lost place when mistake 8th, soon behind, 12th of 15, dist behind Unowhatimeanharry (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Jan.
One For Harry (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) With leader, led before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan beating Nautical Nitwit (11-3) by 1l, 6 ran.
