not fluent and rider lost iron briefly 1st, tracked winner, outpaced 4 out, lost place when not fluent 2 out, no impression after, ridden and lost 3rd flat
held up in last pair, tracked leaders 5 out, mistake 3 out, ridden and stayed on to take narrow 3rd when hung left flat, no impression
held up in last pair, tracked leaders 5 out, mistake next, went 2nd 2 out, ridden and kept on flat, no threat to winner
made all, 3 lengths advantage when not fluent 4 out, driven clear before next, always in command after, ridden out towards finish
chased leaders in 3rd, lost place 5 out, behind when hit 3 out, soon weakened
TREE OF LIBERTY (NAP) was in fine form in the early part of last year scoring at Ludlow and Leicester. He looked even better on his reappearance when just failing to concede Capeland 7lb on the former track and can score again despite a 5lb rise. Kauto Riko has won five of 14 starts and is an obvious threat though last month's victory at Haydock was on heavy going and he could find this a bit lively. Nuts Well is another with a fine strike-rate and has had a couple of runs over hurdles since landing a very nice prize at Kelso in October but Beau Bay is better on ground with plenty of give, a remark that also applies to Caraline.
Tree Of Liberty (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Always handy, ridden after 4 out, went 2nd last, stayed on, not quite reach winner, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Capeland (11-0) at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Kauto Riko (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway on inside 6th, challenged from 4 out, led 3 out, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Zalvados (10-13) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
Nuts Well 16-1 (11-8) Held up, mistake 1st, headway 5 out, weakened 4 out, 6th of 9, 10 3/4l behind Normal Norman (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Beau Bay (FR) 11-2 (12-0) Raced keenly in 3rd, tracked leader before 2nd, led before 3 out, headed next, chased winner, held last, weakened run-in, 4th of 7, 2 3/4l behind Admiral's Secret (11-2) at Wincanton 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Caraline (FR) 8-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, lost place after 3rd, pushed along next, closed 9th, struggling 12th, weakened 4 out, 5th of 7, 29 1/2l behind Willie Boy (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
