chased leaders in 4th, chased leading pair before 5th, chased winner next, hit 3 out, ridden and well held well before last
always in rear, mistake 2nd, ridden and struggling 7th, tailed off
held up in last trio, headway to 3rd before 6th, stumbled 2 out, ridden and beaten well before last
held up in last pair, not fluent 3rd, ridden and struggling before 3 out, went poor 4th before last, tailed off
made all, hit 2nd, ridden clear well before last, easily
chased leading pair until before 5th, weakened next, hit 7th, tailed off
COZY TIGER won three times on the all-weather last year and made a very encouraging debut over hurdles when chasing home Buckie Boy on soft ground at Huntingdon in January. This will be more of a stamina test but Willie Musson's charge should be good enough to get off the mark at the chief expense of the more exposed Super Directa. The latter was fourth in a handicap at Sandown last time and has returned from injury in decent form but may have to settle for a place again today. Avoca Promise has to be interesting now stepping out of bumpers but has never encountered ground this soft before. Alonso De Guzman ran in the opener at Ffos Las yesterday and needs further than this anyway.
Avoca Promise (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Mid-division, switched inside to chase leaders over 2f out, driven and kept on same pace from over 1f out, no impression, 4th of 14, 10l behind Knight Pass (11-12) at Southwell 2m NH flat (6) gs in Jan.
Classic Port (FR) 50-1 (11-5) Always behind, tailed off 2 out, 11th of 13, well behind Extremely So (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Cozy Tiger (USA) 7-2 (11-4) Held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, headway 5th, chased winner last, stayed on, 2nd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Buckie Boy (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Mission Complete (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division in chasing group, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 13, well behind Shammick Boy (11-10) at Taunton 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Super Directa (GER) 11-2 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd well before 2 out, ridden and lost 2nd soon after 2 out, hit last, stayed on same pace flat, lost 3rd last strides, 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Kadouchski (10-3) at Sandown 2m cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) sft in Feb.
Cunning Plan (IRE) 22-1 (9-2) Never better than mid-division, ridden 4f out, 6th of 12, 24l behind Cuckoo Rock (9-1) at Yarmouth 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) hvy in Oct (flat).
New Den 4-1 (9-3) Led, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened 2f out, 5th of 6, 14l behind Money Money Money (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Jan (flat).
Alonso de Guzman (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, led approaching 3rd, hit 6th, headed soon after 3 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Caught By Witness (11-5) at Fakenham 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Guarino (GER) 66-1 (11-2) Tracked leading trio, hit 4th, 3rd from 5th until before 3 out, 4th and beaten when blundered 2 out, weakened soon after, lost poor 4th flat, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Al Ferof (11-8) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (3) gs in Feb.
