keen jumped right, led 2nd, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, beaten when fell next
in touch in rear, went 3rd 4 out, left poor 2nd next, kept on, no chance with winner
keen soon in touch in rear, outpaced 6th, detached 9th, soon pulled up
led, headed 2nd, tracked leader until 7th, weakening when fell 4 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th, led approaching 4 out, clear when blundered 2 out, eased flat
Highway One O Two showed progressive form over hurdles last season culminating in a Grade 2 victory at Kempton. He has leading claims on these terms if ready for action on his chasing bow while Hitman, a winner over hurdles in France, also debuts over fences and returns to action having undergone wind surgery since joining Paul Nicholls. But TOTTERDOWN will be sharper for a last month’s outing behind higher rated rivals than these in a novice chase at Market Rasen and may well have the edge in this with the remaining pair hard to fancy.
Highway One O Two (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Bit keen early, made all, clear between last 2, 5 lengths ahead last, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Feb beating West Cork (11-2) by 4 3/4l, 9 ran.
Mack The Man (IRE) 15-2 (10-3) Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 3 out, still well enough there when brought down last, at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Three County's (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, challenging when not fluent 2 out, weakened towards finish, 5th of 9, 4 3/4l behind Ladronne (11-13) at Newcastle 2m 6f hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Totterdown 7-2 (11-2) Led, clear after 2nd, jumped slow at third, not fluent at 6th, shaken up but headed 3 out, weakened before last, last of 3, 7 1/2l behind Le Patriote (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (3) gd in Oct.
Hitman (FR) (10-7) won at Pau 2m hvy in Jan beating Raf Tavel (10-7) by 8l, 10 ran.
