chased leaders, driven and dropped rear 5th, no danger after
in touch, chased clear and easy winner 8th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened
raced keenly, in touch, left chasing clear and easy winner 6th, lost place 8th, kept on under pressure from 2 out, never on terms
tracked leader until left in lead and well clear 6th, stayed on well, unchallenged
held up in rear, headway to go 2nd 3 out, kept on from next, no chance with winner
Nonrunner
Henry Daly sends only his second runner to Sedgefield in the past five seasons and it could be significant and we'll take BEHERAYN to score from Professor Higgins and Master Nimbus. The selection loves to hear his hooves rattle and was rated the best of this lot over hurdles. The minimum trip remains his optimum but he does have issues. He fell on his chasing debut when tanking along in front and he jumped violently left when tried at right-handed Kempton next time. He returns to the track after a four month absence here and with the yard now in form and hopefully those jumping issues ironed out at home we'll side with him. Professor Higgins has only finished out of the frame twice in 10 career starts. Trip and ground suit, and he has run well here before, so he has to be short list material. The same goes for Master Nimbus, who relishes fast ground on the level and stays 1m 4f in that sphere, so perhaps he will come into his own over further than this over fences. Fortune's Fool perhaps looks best of a poor remainder judged on some of his old form, but Beherayn is the one for us.
Beherayn 9-2 (11-0) Jumped left throughout, led, blundered 3rd, went badly left when mistake next, soon headed, raced in 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, went 3rd approaching last, 3rd of 5, 21l behind Doctor David (11-0) at Kempton 2m nov chs (3) gd in Nov.
Billsgrey (IRE) 200-1 (10-7) Always behind, mistakes, 6th of 9, well behind High Bird Humphrey (10-11) at Catterick 2m mdn chs (4) gd.
Fortune's Fool 33-1 (9-12) Prominent, ridden 3 out, no impression final 3f, 7th of 16, 25l behind Alloro (11-7) at Catterick 2m 3f ldy hcp hdl (5) gs in Feb.
Lindseyfield Lodge (IRE) 150-1 (11-8) Behind, tailed off from 4th, 10th of 16, well behind Sparkling Montjeu (10-0) at Catterick 2m sll hdl (5) gd.
Professor Higgins (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Left in lead 3rd, headed 3 out, every chance until held post, 2nd of 9, shd behind High Bird Humphrey (10-11) at Catterick 2m mdn chs (4) gd.
Whatadifference (USA) 150-1 (9-10) Mid-division, weakened 6th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Magnifico (9-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Feb, 15 ran.
Braddock Island 150-1 (11-0) Mid-division, hampered 8th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Sa Suffit (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) gs in Jan, 16 ran.
Master Nimbus 12-1 (11-1) Chased leader, led 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace after, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Merchant Red (11-1) at Wetherby 2m beg chs (4) gf in Nov.