held up, smooth headway from 11th, led approaching 3 out, easily
led, blundered 4th, headed next, hit 10th, weakened from 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
tracked leaders, led 13th, headed approaching 3 out, soon beaten
with leader, led 5th, not fluent 8th, headed 13th, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
held up, hit 10th, weakened approaching 12th, blundered 14th
Nonrunner
BURTON PORT has looked a decent novice this season and can confirm that with a win here from The Sliotar and Blazing Bailey. The Nicky Henderson-trained pick was an easy scorer from Massasoit at Lingfield in December and relishes three miles with plenty of cut, which he gets here. The runner-up that day has since gone on to ensure that the form looks very solid at the least, and with the promise of plenty more to come than his official mark of 145, Burton Port gets the vote. The Sliotar beat Blazing Bailey a neck at Ffos Las last time out, when the pair met off level weights, so with a 6lb pull and the stable going well, perhaps Alan King's runner can now reverse those particular placings. Ginolad sluiced up at Fontwell in December but then failed to show anything like that form at Huntingdon recently and is hard to assess, but he clearly has ability if right. With the other pair appearing to be here for the day out, Burton Port is a confident selection.
Burton Port (IRE) 8-13fav (11-5) Tracked leader, led 14th, made rest, never in any danger, won at Lingfield 3m nov chs Grade 2 4yo+ (1) hvy in Dec beating Massasoit (11-1) by 3l, 3 ran.
Ginolad (AUS) 11-4 (11-4) Chased leaders, led 2 out, soon headed, weakened between last 2, 3rd of 4, 23l behind Tazbar (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov stks (3) sft in Jan.
The Sliotar (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Held up, challenged 3 out, led last, all out, won at Ffos Las 3m beg chase (4) sft in Jan beating Blazing Bailey (11-0) by nk, 6 ran.
Blazing Bailey 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leader, led 5 out, headed 4 out, led again 3 out, headed last, kept on, 2nd of 6, nk behind The Sliotar (11-0) at Ffos Las 3m beg chase (4) sft in Jan.
Greenandredparson (IRE) 28-1 (10-9) Mid-division, weakened 5 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Vforvictory (11-0) at Sedgefield 3m 3f mdn chs (4) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Grenoli (FR) 100-1 (10-5) Soon led, mistake and headed 2 out, soon weakened, last of 4, well behind Tazbar (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov stks (3) sft in Jan.