tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next
soon led, clear before 2nd until after 3rd, not fluent 2 out, soon edged right, edged right after last, headed flat, stayed on
tracked leaders, not fluent 3 out, weakened before next, pulled up before last
prominent, challenged 3 out, soon ridden, carried right after 2 out, led flat, stayed on
mid-division, not fluent 4th, modest 7th 3 out, weakened before next, went 4th approaching last
led early, prominent, not fluent 4th, lost place next, 6th 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, remote 9th 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear, not fluent 3rd or 4th, tailed off 3 out
held up towards rear, ridden and behind from 3rd
held up in rear, pulled hard, behind 3rd, pulled up after 5th
mid-division, headway approaching 4th, went 3rd before 2 out, one pace and no threat to front pair
in rear, behind when mistake 3rd, modest 8th 3 out
Apterix boasts a decent level of form and was second over track and trip in December before getting off the mark at Fakenham last month. This will be a more searching test of his credentials, however, with Irish raider Idlewild respected as he'll have needed last month's run at Downpatrick. VENUE (NAP), who won three of his four starts on the level, was only beaten a neck on his hurdling debut at Catterick and impressed when beating Apterix's stablemate Gone Forever over track and trip next time and can improve again to land this.
Idlewild 16-1 (11-0) Led, ridden 3 out and soon headed, weakened from 2 out, 6th of 8, well behind Knight's Parade (11-3) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hdl in Mar.
Venue 15-8 (11-0) Made all, jumped mainly left throughout, ridden before last, kept on well, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Gone Forever (11-6) by 6l, 9 ran.
Amaze 8-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders on outside when jumped right 1st, held up, headway when jumped right and slowly 4th, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 7, 26l behind The Ice Factor (11-5) at Perth 2m 3yo hdl (4) gs in Sep '11.
Apterix (FR) 2-1fav (10-7) Keen, close up, not fluent 2nd and 5th, chasing leader when hit 2 out, driven to challenge last, stayed on to lead post, won at Fakenham 2m cond mdn hdle (4) gd in Mar beating Aldborough (11-1) by hd, 6 ran.
Ballalough 80-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, modest 6th when not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, well behind Grove Silver (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
King Of The Dark (IRE) 80-1 (10-8) Chased leaders to 4 out, soon weakened, 12th of 13, 41l behind Looking Well (11-1) at Newcastle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Warlu Way 17-2 (11-0) In rear, pushed along and pecked 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 9, well behind Venue (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Columbanus (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, no impression from 4 out, never a factor, 13th of 20, well behind Sizing Titanium (11-12) at Navan 2m mdn hdl hvy in Mar.
Chasma 100-1 (10-11) Held up mid-division, effort over 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 14, 26l behind Welsh Shadow (11-4) at Wetherby 2m NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
Jaldarshaan (IRE) 40-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, behind, ridden over 1f out, stayed on into mid-division inside final furlong, never near leaders, 10th of 16, 10l behind Ingleby Angel (8-12) at Redcar 6f hcp 0-55 (6) gd in Aug '12 (flat).
Hatton Springs (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, ridden and outpaced on outside before
Viva Star 200-1 (10-4) In rear, pushed along before 5 out, soon struggling, 4th of 6, well behind Debdebdeb (10-12) at Catterick 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
