held up, went handy 3rd approaching 4th, ridden after 13th, lost touch approaching 4 out
took keen hold and not always fluent, tracked winner 1st, stumbled 10th, 1/2 length down 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon switched right, no impression last
led from 1st and made rest, pressed 3 out, in command last, stayed on well
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd and dropped to last, losing touch 7th, mistake 8th and 9th (water), very slow 10th, pulled up next
led until very awkward 1st, raced in 4th after 3rd, behind 7th, closed before 10th, jumped left and mistake 11th, weakened 13th, tailed off
Maraafeq won over 3m here last month but was well beaten at Haydock on his most recent start. He may also struggle today under a penalty with PHIDIPPIDES having shown better form so far over the larger obstacles. He is also unbeaten in two runs at this track and will appreciate the drop in distance having failed to last home over 3m at Leicester last time. Evan Williams' charge gets the vote ahead of Hector's Choice, who will improve on his third to Peplum over C&D last month and gets a handy 6lb from the selection. Of the others, former pointer Norwich Well should improve for the switch to fences and makes more appeal than The Humbel Monk.
Maraafeq (USA) 6-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, in touch, effort before 9th, ridden after 5 out, soon weakened, left remote 4th before last, 4th of 5, 24l behind Douglas Julian (10-2) at Haydock 2m 4f nov chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Phidippides (IRE) 4-7fav (11-5) Led, headed after 8th, led next until 12th, led 13th, not fluent and headed 4 out, led next not fluent 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 4, 18l behind Topsham Belle (10-6) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) gs in Jan.
Hector's Choice (FR) 9-1 (11-9) Took keen hold, held up in rear, headway approaching 12th, every chance from 4 out until last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Peplum (11-8) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Norwich Well (IRE) 100-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, short lived effort after 7th, no impression, 10th of 15, well behind Radetsky March (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
The Humbel Monk (IRE) 50-1 (10-11) Jumped left and keen, raced in close 4th, mistake 2nd, chased leader 8th until before 2 out, weakened after 2 out, tailed off, 3rd of 5, 37l behind Quartz De Thaix (11-0) at Hereford 2m 5f beg chase (4) hvy in Feb.
