chased leaders on inside, bumped 2nd, went 2nd before 3 out, stayed on flat, led towards finish
held up towards rear, outpaced 4 out, modest effort before 3 out, no impression
raced freely, tracked leaders, not much room 2nd, led 7th, pecked 2 out, edged left flat, headed towards finish
with leader, blundered 2nd, lost place 8th, rallied 2 out, 3rd and closing from last, switched left towards finish, went 2nd post, just held
took keen hold, not always fluent, led, hit 5th, headed 7th, beaten when mistake 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
held up in rear, ridden after 4 out, well beaten 3 out
chased leaders on outside, lost place 6th, closed 4 out, beaten 3 out, no extra 2 out
NonRunner
Ludlow winner Quantum Of Solace disappointed at Leicester and will need to reverse that form with second Snow Rescue. Torrent Des Mottes was a shock winner at Huntingdon and looks worth opposing off a 7lb higher mark in this more competitive affair. Royal Act has only gone up 5lb for scoring at Taunton and makes more appeal but Nikki Steel hasn’t raced since June last year when behind DARK INVADER. Evan Williams’ seven-year-old has won twice more since and looked to be on the way back when third to Quantum Of Solace, now 9lb worse off, at Ludlow.
Nikki Steel (IRE) 9-4fav (11-4) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, jumped right 6th, led before 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 7, 17 1/2l behind Dark Invader (10-7) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Dark Invader (FR) 4-1 (12-5) Chased leading pair, 2nd at 6th until before 4 out, chased leading pair, kept on pressing for 2nd, no chance with winner, 3rd of 7, 7 1/4l behind Quantum Of Solace (11-10) at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gd in Feb.
Quantum Of Solace 2-1jfav (11-10) Tracked leader, hampered 1st and 4 out, every chance 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 7, 12 3/4l behind Cracking Destiny (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Dallas Cowboy (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Led 1st, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 7, 32 1/4l behind Hugo's Reflection (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Royal Act 7-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led before 5th, clear before 2 out, mistake last, kept on well, won at Taunton 2m hcp (5) gs in Mar beating Western Morning (11-6) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Nomination Game (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, pecked 1st, headway 11th, 4 lengths 3rd when bad mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, dist behind Waitinonasunnyday (10-0) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (5) gf in Feb.
Snow Rescue (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, jumped right 4 out, every chance 2 out, stayed on into 2nd after last, not pace of winner, 2nd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Cracking Destiny (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Torrent Des Mottes (FR) 8-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway 5 out, led before 2 out, drew clear from last, eased towards finish, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp (5) gd in Mar beating Sprogzilla (10-5) by 13l, 9 ran.
