chased leader, challenged, led 3 out, ridden 2 out, headed last, rallied, ran on flat, just failed
prominent, not fluent 3rd, mistake 4th, ridden, headway approaching 2 out, ran on one pace flat
prominent, headway approaching 2 out, challenged 2 out, soon ridden, led, hit last, hard driven flat, all out
pulled early, held up last, headway 3 out, ridden 2 out, soon weakened
led to 1st, chased leaders, ridden, lost place after 5th, weakened 3 out
held up in mid-division, ridden, effort approaching 2 out, ran on from last
led 1st, mistake, headed 3 out, tracked leaders 2 out, soon ridden, weakened last
held up towards rear, hit 3rd, some headway approaching 2 out, one pace
held up in mid-division, mistake 3 out, ridden, switched right approaching 2 out, ran on strongly flat, just failed
Nicki Boy has to defy a 7lb rise for his narrow win at Fontwell last month but with more improvement to come on a similarly fast track he looks worth chancing to follow up and is preferred to She's Our Daisy and Dusty Dane. The last mentioned does have a 5lb pull for four lengths with the selection on their running at Fontwell but may have to settle for a minor role again. David Pipe's The Castilian has not had a great deal of racing over the last year and has to be respected but may need some help from the handicapper. Executive Paddy has given little sign of encouragement of late, while Hatch A Plan does have his favoured ground but is hard to back with confidence on the evidence of recent flat form. She's Our Daisy has shown progressive form this season and cannot be discounted but may be a shade high in the weights and a safer bet looks to be Nicki Boy, who is taken to win back-to-back races.
Nicki Boy (GER) 5-2fav (11-7) Chased clear leader, led after 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, all out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar beating Mous Of Men (10-3) by a shd, 16 ran.
Dusty Dane (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Mid-division, went 3rd approaching last, stayed on, 3rd of 16, 4l behind Nicki Boy (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
John Charles (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Led until headed before 3 out, weakened under pressure before 2 out, 8th of 14, 43l behind Princelet (10-10) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
She's Our Daisy (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Led to 3rd, weakened rapidly, tailed off, 19th of 22, well behind Ebaziyan (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Mar.
Hatch A Plan (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Stumbled on landing and fell in race won by Tipperary All Star (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl 0-115 (3) gs in Nov, 20 ran.
Executive Paddy (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Prominent, led 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 12, 21l behind Hereditary (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
The Castilian (FR) 5-1 (11-0) Held up, smooth headway after 4 out, chased leaders next, weakened 2 out, 5th of 20, 21l behind Final Bid (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Alina Rheinberg (GER) 20-1 (11-6) In touch, ridden and weakened after 3 out, last of 5, 42l behind Purple Patch (11-7) at Warwick 2m mrs hcp hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
