made most as soon after 5th, chased leader until outpaced before 2 out where not fluent, weakened before last
held up, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, ridden to join leader 2 out, driven ahead run in, kept on gamely to assert
keen, held up, good headway to lead soon after 5th, joint 2 out, still travelling well last, headed run in, no extra towards finish
took keen hold, tracked leaders until mistake and lost place 3rd, brief effort under pressure before 2 out, soon beaten
always behind, tailed off when hit 2 out
pressed leader until weakened quickly 5th, soon tailed off
keen, in touch, tracked leading pair from 3rd, mistake and weakened 2 out
held up in rear, hit 3, effort after 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, beaten when not fluent next
The vote here goes to Sea Captain ahead of Mighty Man and Wenceslas. Sea Captain looked a hurdler with a very good future when getting the better of Il Duce (a dead-heating winner since) over course and distance last time, and can win again, although the form this week of his stable is something of a concern. Mighty Man has done nothing wrong in winning each of his starts to date, and he too is interesting, as is the Henrietta Knight-trained Wenceslas, who won on his hurdling debut at Huntingdon last time. The remaining runners seem to lack strength although Dearson showed some promise on his latest bumper start, while Gallant Approach showed some promise on his hurdling debut, although he has a good bit to find with the selection on that running. The selection, once again, being Sea Captain.
Keepthedreamalive 8-1 Led to 4th, chased clear leader until weakened before 2 out, 11th of 14, 31l behind Chamoss Royale at Kempton 3m hcp hdl (B) gd in Jan.
Mighty Man (FR) 4-1 Mid-division, headway 4th, led approaching last, ran on well, won at Hereford 2m 1f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Feb beating Jacks Craic by 7l, 13 ran.
Sea Captain 11-4 Held up behind leaders, smooth headway before 2 out, quickened to lead before last, ridden clear run-in, won at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (D) gd in Feb beating Il Duce by 4l, 7 ran.
Wenceslas (IRE) 5-1 Held up, headway approaching 4th, ridden when hit 2 out, edged left flat, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (D) gd in Jan beating Madison de Vonnas by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Brasilia Prince 66-1 Jumped badly in rear, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Darkness at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (D) sft in Jan, 13 ran.
Castleboy (IRE) 100-1 Held up towards rear, staying on when blundered and unseated rider 2 out in race won by Olaso at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (E) gd in Dec, 25 ran.
Edgar Wilde (IRE) Fell in race won by Lord Payne at Dungarvan 3m ptp gd in Jan '04, 11 ran.
Dearson (IRE) 16-1 Led, hard driven 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 1 1/2l behind Creinch at Newbury 1m 4f 4yo nhf (H) gs in Jan.
Killer Cat (FR) 33-1 Always rear, tailed off 4th, 13th of 14, well behind L'oudon at Newbury 2m 4yo nov hdl (E) gd.
Barton Park 28-1 Very free to post, settled in rear, no chance with leaders from 3 out, one pace after 2 out, 3rd of 6, 43l behind Mr President at Sandown 2m nov hdl (D) gs in Feb.
Gallant Approach (IRE) 11-2 Prominent, mistake and lost place 3rd, mistake next, no impression and weakened before 2 out, 5th of 7, 20l behind Sea Captain at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (D) gd in Feb.
