raced wide, tracked leading pair, went 2nd after 4th, led before 3 out, stayed on well from last, comfortably
held up in rear, steady progress in 6th when not fluent 9th, chased leading trio 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, stayed on from last to press for 2nd but no impression on winner
held up in touch, tracked leaders 5th, travelling well before 9th, 5th when hit 3 out, weakened immediately soon after, poor 6th when pulled up after next
took keen hold in touch, hit 6th, pushed along after 8th, stayed on to 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, hit 8th and next, went 2nd 3 out until weakened next
last pair, struggling before 9th, tailed off
led, clear 4th until 8th, ridden and headed before 3 out, soon weakened, poor 5th when blundered last
chased leader until after 4th, weakened and soon struggling in rear, mistake 9th, tailed off
AIKIDEAU got off the mark over C&D last time when stepped up in distance and looks up to defying a penalty as there should be more to come from Richard Rowe's charge over this trip. Firey King makes his racecourse debut though his defeat of Presented in a point-to-point last March hasn't worked out that well and Ruling Party could prove a bigger danger with a hurdling debut at Uttoxeter under his belt. Bumper winner Seedsman showed some promise when fourth on his first start over timber and should be thereabouts again.
Aikideau (FR) 9-4 (11-6) Held up, not much room when mistake 3rd, closed 7th, challenged approaching 3 out, led 2 out, not fluent last, pushed clear, won at Plumpton 2m 5f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) hvy beating Kings Lodge (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Diamond Sweeper (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Held up in last pair, stayed on to modest 4th when stumbled 2 out, 4th of 6, 12l behind Ballygarvey (11-6) at Lingfield 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
Firey King (IRE) 9-4 (12-0) Mid div, mstk 1st & 5th, prog 2out & chall well aftr 2out, ld gng best when lft clr last, sow, won at Kilworth 3m ire ptp gs in Mar beating Presented (12-0) by 6l, 10 ran.
Ruling Party 8-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, outpaced from 3 out, kept on and no impression from next, 3rd of 18, 21l behind Native Gallery (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Seedsman 10-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, close 3rd 2 out, soon beaten, one pace, 4th of 12, 9l behind Heather Royal (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (4) gs.
Lynford Nakita 80-1 (10-6) Raced in rear, headway over 2f out, never on terms, 7th of 14, 21l behind Divine Folly (10-13) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn NH flat (5) gs in Jan '11.
Madam Noso 80-1 (10-8) Towards rear, not fluent 4th, mistake next, headway 6th, weakened after next and soon pulled up, in a race won by Simply Ben (10-13) at Ffos Las 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) sft, 11 ran.
Thunder On 150-1 (10-12) Hampered 1st, behind, struggling 6th, tailed off next, 13th of 14, well behind Kaffie (10-12) at Warwick 2m 5f mares NH nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
