behind, jumped right 1st, jumped slowly 6th, went right and ridden next, pulled up before 8th
chased leader, bumped 1st, led 8th until 10th, chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, blundered 4 out, went badly right and pulled up after next
held up in last pair, smooth headway into 2nd before 4 out, one pace and well held 2 out
led until narrowly headed 8th, in front again 10th, went right 3 out, clear and in command next, kept on strongly
chased leaders, weakened 4 out, hit next
held up in touch, headway 4 out, pressing for modest 3rd run-in
chased leading trio, went 3rd before 4 out, held when reached for 2 out, ridden and one pace last
Lightly raced over fences, Nikki Steel has only gone up 2lb for a narrow win at Market Rasen. Awake At Midnight is a bit more exposed but is only a pound higher than when scoring at Chepstow in the autumn. Dr Des is still a maiden over fences but has shown promise and is starting to slip down the handicap. NESTERENKO has won off much higher marks over hurdles and seemed to be getting the hang of jumping fences when runner-up at Stratford last month. He’s gone up 4lb for that but any further improvement will put him in the firing-line. Darcy Ward may be better on sharper tracks than this.
Dr Des (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway 12th, pressing leaders 4 out, soon driven, no impression 2 out, 5th of 11, 10 1/2l behind De Rasher Counter (11-12) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (2) hvy in Mar.
Potters Story 6-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, driven 4 out, mistake next, weakened 2 out, tailed off, remote 3rd, last of 3, dist behind Whatswrongwithyou (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Awake At Midnight 11-10fav (11-5) Tracked leading pair until 8th, chased leading trio, rallied on inside chasing winner before 4 out where every chance, lost 2nd next, weakened 2 out, 4th of 5, 20l behind Lillington (11-4) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Darcy Ward (FR) 7-1 (11-6) Led and set steady pace, quickened tempo 4 out, pushed along before 2 out, headed between last 2, lost 2nd approaching the last, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 5, 17l behind Dream Du Grand Val (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Nesterenko (GER) 3-1 (11-0) Led, pushed along and joined 2 out, ridden and headed between last 2, kept on run-in, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Clondaw Westie (11-6) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Nikki Steel (IRE) 5-1 (12-3) Chased leaders on inside, bumped 2nd, went 2nd before 3 out, stayed on flat, led towards finish, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Mar beating Dallas Cowboy (11-1) by nk, 7 ran.
King Cnut (FR) 20-1 (11-1) Led until 2 out, soon ridden and lost 2nd, weakened quickly, 7th of 8, 30 1/4l behind Timoteo (11-8) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
