led, mistake 3rd, ridden, mistake and headed 6th, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders, led after 6th until next, soon ridden, weakened
held up, headway to track leader after 3 out, ridden to challenge last, kept on to lead final strides
chased leaders until weakened after 3 out
tracked leaders, led after 3 out, ridden approaching next, edged left from 2 out, no extra when caught final strides
held up, lost touch after 6th, tailed off
Nonrunner
Nippy des Mottes was still travelling well when brought down at Fakenham last time and is taken to gain ample compensation today with Classic Croco and Maclean the only serious rivals. The selection, a winner of a non-thoroughbred race on the flat in France, had shown promise in his first three starts in the UK since joining Paul Nicholls and, judged by those runs and his latest effort, should be more than capable of taking a race of this nature. Bailaora was rated 79 at his best of on the level but has lost his way over the last year and is probably best watched on his hurdling debut. Mariday would need to improve on the evidence of flat form and of more interest is Classic Croco, who has reached the frame in all three of his starts over timber and trainer Bridget Nicholls has decided to put blinkers on him for the first time today. Gary Moore's Maclean has shown ability in better races than this and has to be respected but Nippy des Mottes looks to have been found a suitable opportunity to open his account and is taken to do so.
