close up, headway to 3rd 6th, led before 2 out, well in command between last 2, drew clear flat, easily
took keen hold, close up. driven ater 3 out, weakened soon after
led, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened soon after
close up until mistake and lost place 4th, soon ridden, in rear next, lost touch 6th, tailed off
chased leader until 6th, soon ridden and weakened, hit next, tailed off
held up towards rear, mistake 4th, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, wnent modest 3rs 2 out, no chance when hit last
held up in 7th, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, went 2nd approaching 2 out, ridden and no impression between last 2, kept on for clear 2nd
took keen hold, held up in rear, lost touch 6th, tailed off
held up towards rear, lost touch 6th, soon tailed off, pulled up before last
led in start, chased leaders, went 2nd 6th, led after 3 out until before next, weakened and mistake 2 out, tailed off
Raduis Bleu again found one too good when sent back over hurdles over C&D in November. That was another decent effort, however, and he sets the standard in this. But we marginally prefer Oliver Sherwood's filly ZAKEETA, who won twice over this distance at Fontwell before finding Grade 2 company too hot over a shorter trip at Cheltenham. A run on the all-weather will have blown away any cobwebs and she must go well. Captain Kirkton ran well in an all-weather NH Flat race last month and is also worth a second look along with Plumpton bumper winner Gorgehous Lliege.
Captain Kirkton (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, kicked out at rival 12f out, not much room over 2f out briefly, led well over 1f out, soon ridden, headed close home, 2nd of 12, hd behind Mintiverdi (11-0) at Kempton 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4-6yo) (AWT) (6) std in Dec.
Gorgehous Lliege (FR) 11-4fav (10-10) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, hung left under pressure entering final furlong, kept on, won at Plumpton 2m 2f mdn NH flat (6) sft in Mar beating Johney Foley (11-3) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Grey Cruzene (USA) 80-1 (11-2) Behind, struggling 3rd, pulled up before next, in a race won by Extremely So (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Lambro River (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Prominent early, held up in touch, lost place 6f out, weakened 4f out, 8th of 11, 16l behind Blue Monster (11-0) at Kempton 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Lions In Law 25-1 (10-5) Mid-division, some headway approaching 8th, sooon ridden, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 16, well behind De Forgotten Man (10-12) at Towcester 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Prince Of Valour (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders on inside, effort to challenge 2 out, soon outpaced, weakened before last, 7th of 16, 29l behind Global Power (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Raduis Bleu (FR) 13-8fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, good headway to chase leaders 3 out, chased winner and hit 2 out, soon no impression, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind On Trend (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 3f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) sft in Nov.
Cloudy Wager 40-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, lost a few places 4th, mistake 7th, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 8, 37l behind Risaala (10-3) at Huntingdon 2m 4f mares NH nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Sahara Sunshine 100-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, ridden and behind from 6th, tailed off 7th, pulled up after, in a race won by Queen Poline (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Feb, 12 ran.
Zakeeta (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Raced on wide outside in mid-division, headway 3rd, challenged next, led 4 out, mistake and headed 3 out, weakened and hit 2 out, 8th of 15, 47l behind Sam Winner (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m juv nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Nov.
