tracked leaders, led 2 out, shaken up last, easily
held up, reminders 8th, tailed off from 3 out
tracked leaders, led 5 out, ridden 3 out, headed next, one pace and 4th when fell last
held up, headway 4 out, challenged 2 out, no extra from last
led, mistake and headed 9th, ridden 5 out, driven and stayed on from 2 out, no chance with winner
prominent, ridden 5 out, weakened from 3 out
RATE OF KNOTS is readily preferred over Tastes Like More and Tacinja. The last named was far too keen when she was last seen out and failed to get home as a result. However, Mark Bradburne gets on well with the nine-year-old and he may be able to coax her into a more settled display this afternoon. Heavy ground would have to be a concern for this ex-German mare, though. A former Irish pointer, Tastes Like More has run with credit since she returned from a leg injury in November of last year - making up for lost time by winning a couple of modest races over timber. Switching to fences has not been a problem for her and Donald McCain's mare looks the most likely candidate to throw down the gauntlet to the selection. However, Rate Of Knots has far more scope for improvement and, having won a beginners chase at Towcester on Boxing Day, the JP McManus-owned mare is fancied to take this next test in her stride. Tony McCoy doing the steering is the icing on the cake.
Rate of Knots (IRE) 7-4fav (10-0) In touch, always going well, tracked leader 2 out, led last easy, won at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (5) gs in Dec beating Ballyboley (10-11) by 7l, 10 ran.
Cute N You Know It 33-1 (10-7) Mid-division, ridden after 6th, soon weakened, 12th of 14, well behind Sheriff Hutton (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Dec.
Sunny Brook 10-1 (10-3) Tracking leaders when fell at the 9th in race won by Huckleberry (10-8) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Tacinja (GER) 6-1 (11-12) In touch until ridden and weakened 2 out, behind when pulled up at the 13th in race won by Madam Harriet (10-5) at Hexham 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy in Apr, 8 ran.
Tastes Like More (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent, reminders after 9th, stayed on to take 2nd after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 3, 15l behind Ping Pong Sivola (11-4) at Bangor 2m 4f mrs nov chs (4) hvy.
Definitely It 100-1 (10-4) Soon lost good position, ridden in 5th and no chance when fell 4 out in race won by Jaunty Flight (10-5) at Newbury 2m 4f mrs nov chs (4) sft in Jan, 9 ran.
