tracked leaders, challenged 4f out, led 3f out, clear form over 1f out, pushed out
tracked leader, challenged 5f out, led over 3f out, soon headed, no impression on winner over 1f out, lost 2nd close home
led, headed over 3f out, stayed on same pace, took 2nd close home, no impression on winner
All of these are dropping in distance and Doncaster runner-up Nautical Nitwit has never raced over a trip this short. Volcanic twice won over 1m4f in his younger days in France but the weights favour BORDEAUX BILL, who has been placed in a bumper and had the form of his Wetherby victory over fences in December franked when the runner-up won at Catterick last month. Wilberdragon can’t be ruled out, however, as he did win over a chase at Wincanton in the autumn and had plenty of form over 2m earlier in his career.
Bordeaux Bill (IRE) 4-5fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led 4 out, drew clear after next, very easily, won at Wetherby 3m (4) sft in Dec beating Sharp Response (11-0) by 9l, 3 ran.
Nautical Nitwit (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, led before 2 out, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Gunfleet (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Volcanic (FR) 4-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway 4 out, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 9, 3 3/4l behind Cresswell Legend (11-2) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Wilberdragon 16-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before next, 5th of 10, 27l behind Horatio Hornblower (11-0) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
