mid-division, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, stayed on into 2nd after last, never reached winner
led until 2nd, remained prominent, led again before 3 out, jumped left and not fluent last, stayed on strongly
always towards rear, beaten 4 out, pulled up after next
chased leaders, lost place 5 out, struggling when blundered badly and well recovered 3 out, soon pulled up
held up in rear, reminders after 6th, struggling next, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
in touch, driven after 5 out, weakened next, tailed off
tracked leaders, lost place before 5 out, behind when pulled up next
led 2nd, headed before 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last
in rear, slow 1st, beaten 6 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, lost place after 7th, behind when pulled up 5 out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4th, mistake next, under pressure approaching 4 out, never able to challenge
held up in rear, mistake 4th, under pressure 8th, behind when pulled up 4 out
This looks quite competitive but NESTOR PARK (NAP) is likely to go off favourite given he has run in top-class company either side of beating a subsequent winner in a maiden at Warwick. Sam's Adventure should have won at Kelso last month and was then only beaten half-a-length at Ayr so has to go on the short-list along with Bialco, who has won over fences and finished second three times in a row last spring. Lord Du Mesnil is 0-15 but has been keeping decent company lately and was placed over course and distance last month. Arthur Mac won a Catterick maiden a month ago but this looks a much tougher assignment.
Arthur Mac (IRE) 5-4fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, went 2nd when blundered 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, rallied and upsides last, soon led, stayed on flat, won at Catterick 2m 3f mdn (4) gs in Dec beating The Steward (11-7) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
Nestor Park (FR) 28-1 (11-7) Took keen hold in touch, lost place 6th, behind and struggling next, tailed off, last of 7, 30l behind Champ (11-7) at Newbury 2m 5f (1) gs in Dec.
Alone No More (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Behind, outpaced 2 out (usual 3 out), never a threat, 8th of 13, dist behind Elvis Mail (10-12) at Kelso 2m (4) gd in Dec.
Bialco (FR) 11-8 (10-12) Disputed lead to after 3rd, joined leader again 5th, led 3 out, driven and headed before next, kept on until ridden and no extra in clear 2nd flat, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Weebill (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f (4) gd in May.
Chauvet Cave (IRE) 250-1 (11-5) Held up in rear until fell 2nd, at Sedgefield 2m 4f (4) gs in Jan.
Cloghouge Boy (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up in touch on outside, pushed along before 2 out, never threatened leaders, 5th of 8, 16 1/4l behind Highland Hunter (11-4) at Hexham 2m 4f (4) hvy in Dec.
Clondaw Fixer (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Led, mistake 5th, headed before 2 out, weakened quickly, behind when pulled up before last, at Hexham 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Nov.
Lord Du Mesnil (FR) 14-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway 7th, not fluent 3 out, weakened before last, 9th of 14, 32 1/4l behind Aux Ptits Soins (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Moon Rua (IRE) 5-2 (12-2) Ww, prog to jn ldrs after 4out, 4th 3out, ko to go 2nd cls home, 2nd of 12, 8l behind Springfield Fox (12-2) at Boulta 3m mdn sft in Dec.
Rocket Man Rodney 100-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, challenged when mistake 4 out, driven and lost place quickly before next, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 2 out, at Kelso 2m 7f mdn (4) gd in Dec.
Sam's Adventure 9-4 (11-5) In touch, tracked leaders after 4 out, ridden and one pace after next, rallied after last, stayed on to press winner towards finish, just held, 2nd of 17, 1/2l behind Off The Hook (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn (5) gs in Jan.
Stormy Reception (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, not fluent and slow at times, last 4th, behind 4 out, pulled up after, at Ayr 2m 4f (4) gs in Jan.
