made most, not fluent 3rd (water), mistake and headed briefly 5th, joined 2 out, ridden and headed between last 2, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
in touch, pressed leader before 7th, almost upsides 2 out, led between last 2, clear before last, driven out, stayed on well
tracked leader, led briefly 5th, lost place before 7th, outpaced after 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
soon behind, reminder after 8th, stayed on to take modest 3rd flat, no chance with clear pair
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, raced wide before 8th, outpaced by clear pair 3 out, no danger after, lost modest 3rd flat
Heavy going suits Donald McCain’s mare Kelka and she has every chance of a first success over the larger obstacles. The ground is something of an unknown for NIVEN but his close second to subsequent Grade 1 winner Delta Work is the stand-out form in this contest and he can make a winning start for new connections ahead of Bulkov, who is tried in cheekpieces after a couple of below-par efforts so far over fences. The other pair look out of their depth.
Bulkov (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Led, headed before 5th, lost place 9th, not fluent and well beaten 3 out, last of 6, 23 1/2l behind Midnight Chill (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Niven (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Mid-division, slight mistake 1st, progress into 4th entering straight, ridden behind leaders 3 out, no impression in 4th 2 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 10, 10 1/2l behind All The Answers (10-6) at Cork 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Nov.
Paddocks Lounge (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Led, jumped right 7th, headed 4 out, went right and no impression 2 out, lost 2nd and weakened last, 4th of 9, 14 1/4l behind Cougar's Gold (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Catchamat 28-1 (10-8) Never better than mid-division, behind and struggling 12th, left remote 4th 3 out, 4th of 8, 23 1/2l behind Donna's Diamond (11-1) at Kelso 2m 7f (3) gs in Dec.
Kelka 20-1 (11-12) Held up behind, headway into mid-division on outside after 3rd, lost place 3 out, weakened from next, 9th of 14, 19 1/4l behind Dino Velvet (11-3) at Ayr 2m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
