tracked leader, led 2 out, hard ridden when idled and flashed tail after last, kept on
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, never on terms
led until jumped slowly and headed 2 out, rallied last, stayed on well
chased leaders, effort after 3 out, weakened next
always behind, struggling 4th, soon beaten
always in rear
mid-division, slow 2nd, weakened 4th
tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, driven after 3 out, stayed on strongly approaching last, no extra flat
always towards rear
mid-division, weakened 4th, soon tailed off
Massena is back over hurdles for the first time since scoring at Wincanton in November but he's been in very good form over fences, winning three and finishing second on the same number of occasions. He has every chance in this while Hint Of Mint won at Leicester in January and was taking on decent company at Exeter last time. Flat winner Roberto Pegasus has shown promise over hurdles but doesn't stand much racing and Cape Breton is probably less exposed. VERY NOBLE has been highly tried so far but showed his wellbeing by winning a jumpers' bumper last month. The runner-up scored over hurdles at Chepstow last week and Paul Nicholls' gelding can follow suit here.
Hint Of Mint 10-1 (11-9) Held up, last when not fluent 3rd, ridden after next, lost touch 6th, went 4th last, 4th of 5, 37l behind Vibrato Valtat (11-3) at Exeter 2m 1f Listed nov hdl (1) hvy in Feb.
Cape Breton 50-1 (10-7) In touch, went 6th before 2 out, went 5th before last, kept on to take 3rd place run-in, 3rd of 17, 13l behind Volnay De Thaix (11-5) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Massena (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) Led until 1st, chased winner, every chance when mistake 3 out, soon ridden and held, clear 2nd, 2nd of 5, 23l behind Sound Investment (10-9) at Taunton 2m (3) hvy in Feb.
Roberto Pegasus (USA) 7-2fav (11-0) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, 26l behind Fergall (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Sand Artist (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, blundered and unseated rider 5th, in a race won by Liberty One (11-3) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Feb, 9 ran.
Suffice (IRE) 11-4 (10-7) Tracked leaders and keen, fell 3 out, in a race won by Bob's World (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Mar '13, 16 ran.
Tide Runner 50-1 (11-0) Soon mid-division, closer order after halfway, 2nd 5f out, dropped to 5th and kept on same pace from over 2f out, 9th of 13, 28l behind Sallyanka (11-4) at Wexford 2m N H flat gf in May '11.
Very Noble (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Held up in mid-division, good headway on inside over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, quickened to lead final 100 yards, comfortably, won at Lingfield 2m n h flat (4) std in Feb beating Ginger Fizz (10-6) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Obistar (FR) 7-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, tailed off, 10th of 18, 41l behind Gentleman Jon (11-1) at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) sft.
Shining Cross (IRE) 100-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, ridden halfway, edged left over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Repetition (8-12) at Southwell 6f mdn stks (5) fbs in Feb '13 (flat).
