raced wide in touch, pushed along 4f out, weakened 2f out
raced wide tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, weakened 2f out
prominent, led after 4f, ridden and headed inside final furlong, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, chased leader 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on
towards rear, headway 2f out, stayed on towards finish and left 2nd
raced wide held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on, nearest finish, brought down soon after line
led 4f, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
towards rear, switched wide over 2f out, headway entering final furlong, ran on to go 2nd when fell close home
in rear, pushed along 2f out, ridden and ran on towards finish, nearest finish
prominent, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, nearest finish
towards rear, never on terms
in touch, ridden and weakened 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
King D'argent had to be ridden out to land the odds over 2m4f at Newcastle but still looks a better bet than the two other recent winners, Billy's Angel and Good Bye, who also carry 6lb extra. Nebuchadnezzar is only 1-20 in career starts but has run well in all three starts on the all-weather so has solid claims. Darkest Day has shown his best form on soft ground at Plumpton but was third in a Down Royal bumper when trained in Ireland. ZAFAR placed three times on the Flat when trained in Germany. He has finished second in three of his seven hurdle starts, including last time at Wincanton, and should have the speed for this. Princess Midnight could have place prospects with her stable in better form now.
Billy's Angel (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Chased leaders on inside, went 2nd over 1f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, ran on well, won at Kempton 2m 2f (5) pol in Feb beating Lantiern (11-4) by 1 3/4l, 15 ran.
Good Bye (GER) 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, led 2f out, driven over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Lingfield 2m (5) pol in Feb beating Nye Bevan (11-4) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
King D'Argent (FR) 4-9fav (11-4) Chased leader who went clear after 3f, closed from 10f out, led over 4f out, driven and edged left over 1f out, stayed on, won at Newcastle 2m 4f (5) pol in Feb beating Reassurance (10-11) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Bailarico (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway on outside over 1f out, plugged on in 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Before Midnight (11-4) at Kempton 2m (4) pol in Feb.
Darkest Day (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Held up in mid-division, smooth headway approaching omitted 3 out, 2nd on bit before next, ridden and found nil nil run-in, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Mr Jack (11-12) at Plumpton 2m hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Dash Of Blue 5-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 6th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 14, dist behind Dorking Boy (11-13) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Don't Shout (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Jumped right and not well, prominent, lost place from 5th, behind 8th, soon pulled up, at Warwick 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Eau Top (FR) 9-2 (11-11) Prominent, ridden 14th, soon weakened, pulled up 4 out, at Wetherby 3m hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Frame Rate 33-1 (8-13) Led 1f, chased leader until over 8f out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 3 1/4l behind G For Gabrial (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Nebuchadnezzar (FR) 13-2 (9-10) Prominent, ridden to challenge and led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, ran on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind The Rutland Rebel (9-5) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Now Children (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 6, 5 1/2l behind Defence Treaty (9-10) at Southwell 1m stks (6) pol in Feb.
Yaazaain 40-1 (9-6) Raced wide close up, joined leader 4f out, ridden and weakened 3f out, 6th of 8, 17 1/2l behind Blowing Dixie (9-12) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Zafar (GER) 17-2 (10-11) Mid-division on inside, closed 3rd, not fluent next, disputing 2nd 3 out, looking held when mistake 2 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 16l behind And The New (11-13) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Princess Midnight 12-1 (10-2) Raced alone out wide, went badly right and nearly unseated rider 1st, chased winner until 3rd, 2nd again 3 out until before next, weakened quickly, 5th of 9, 21l behind High Up In The Air (12-5) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp (5) sft in Jan.
