mid-division, headway after 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, led before last, ridden clear flat, stayed on well
led, driven 2 out, headed before last, kept on same pace, ridden and no chance with winner flat
tracked leaders, outpaced before 2 out, no impression after
chased leaders on outside, reminder 3rd, ridden and weakened 4 out, tailed off
tracked leader, driven and lost place approaching 2 out, 4th and one pace between last 2, stayed on to take 3rd at last, no impression with front pair
mistake 1st, behind, struggling 5th, never dangerous
behind, mistake 4th, struggling after 5th, never dangerous
mid-division, headway after 4 out, driven to chase leading pair 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, beaten when lost 3rd at last
held up behind, some headway into mid-division 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace from next, never troubled leaders
tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, weakened 2 out
CLEVER COOKIE looks the one to beat on today's terms. He shrugged off a 9lb rise to complete a double at Musselburgh and should have no problem with the extra 2f here. Fergall was less impressive at Kempton attempting to defy a rise in the weights for an earlier win at Huntingdon and, having made a promising start over hurdles, Franciscan seems to have lost his way. Hit The Top finished well ahead of Maybe I Wont when runner-up in a handicap at Catterick while novice hurdle winners Landecker and Secrete Stream are closely matched at the weights. Irish raider Mister Nibbles won a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown last time and could prove a bigger threat.
Clever Cookie 5-1 (10-0) Held up in rear and travelled strongly, headway 5th, not fluent next, mistake 2 out, led last, ridden and ran on well to draw clear flat, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb beating Local Hero (10-9) by 8l, 10 ran.
Fergall (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Held up in 7th, headway on inside when hampered 4 out, chasing leaders when hit 3 out, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 10, 33l behind Three Kingdoms (11-8) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Mister Nibbles (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Mid-division early, progress into 5th halfway, led 5 out, challenged 2 out, ridden before last, strongly pressed run-in and kept on well under pressure, won at Leopardstown 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Jan beating Champagne James (11-12) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
Franciscan 14-1 (10-4) In touch, closed before 4th, challenged next, ridden and close up when fell 3 out, in a race won by Clever Cookie (10-0) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
Hit The Top (IRE) 10-3fav (11-4) Led, ridden and headed before last, kept on run-in, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Ubaltique (11-12) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Landecker (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, left 2nd last, kept on and just held near finish, won at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Rainbow Peak (11-10) by ns, 12 ran.
Maybe I Wont 9-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders in 3rd, one pace before last, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Ubaltique (11-12) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Secrete Stream (IRE) 9-4 (11-11) Tracked leaders, headway after 4 out, went 2nd and challenged 2 out, kept on, ridden and no impression with winner flat, 2nd of 14, 4l behind Tiqris (11-4) at Wetherby 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Tough Trade 25-1 (11-11) Mid-division, steady headway after 4 out, tracked leaders next, effort to challenge 2 out, soon switched left and one pace, no impression approaching last, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 14, 12l behind Tiqris (11-4) at Wetherby 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Lord Usher (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, left 3rd from last, kept on, 3rd of 12, 21l behind Landecker (11-3) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
