keen hold, settled last, headway to track leading pair from 8th, closed from 3 out, went 2nd before last, ran on gamely run-in, not reach winner
held up, headway under pressure approaching 3 out, one pace and no impression from next
chased leaders in 3rd, chased winner 6th, no impression when hit 4 out, closed approaching 3 out, driven and no impression and soon beaten
chased leaders until weakened 9th
raced wide in 5th, ridden 7th, weakened after next
jumped well, made all, 4 lengths clear last, held om gamely under pressure run-in, all out
chased winner, slipped on bend before 4th, lost 2nd at 6th, not jump well after and soon lost touch
Formerly with Georgina Browne, Nycteos won in good fashion on only his second start for Paul Nicholls under similarly testing conditions at Chepstow last month and is taken to follow up at the main expense of Jacks Craic and Pak Jack. The last mentioned may be better than he has shown previously this term and the yard of Phillip Hobbs has had a few winners of late. Mick Easterby's Super Nomad is entitled to be thereabouts on his best form but is on a long losing sequence and may be best watched. Executive Decision has more to do off a 5lb higher mark than when landing a weaker race at Leicester last time, while Jurado Express has given little sign of encouragement of late. A bigger threat then looks to be recent course and distance winner Jacks Craic, who is only 3lbs higher today and again has the assistance of Graham Lee but Nycteos could be open to plenty more improvement and he gets the vote.
Jacks Craic (IRE) 7-4fav (11-2) In touch, led 3 out, narrowly headed run-in, rallied to lead close home, won at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb beating Without A Doubt (11-12) by a hd, 4 ran.
Pak Jack (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, ridden and headway 5 out, one pace, 3rd of 11, 18l behind Cruising River (11-0) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Jurado Express (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Tracked leader, every chance 3 out, outpaced next, last of 4, 7l behind Jacks Craic (11-2) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Super Nomad 8-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, weakened from 4 out, 4th of 8, 36l behind Do L'enfant D'eau (10-2) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Executive Decision (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Held up, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, challenging when left in lead last, driven out, won at Leicester 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb beating Lamp's Return (11-5) by 6l, 11 ran.
Jericho III (FR) 11-2 (11-7) Led, mistake 9th, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened quickly, 4th of 11, 12l behind Executive Decision (11-9) at Leicester 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Arctic Spirit 33-1 (11-0) Set steady pace, hit 5th, headed 3 out, weakened quickly, 7th of 10, well behind Manners (11-0) at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Nycteos (FR) 5-4fav (10-5) Keen, headway 4th, led on bit 3 out, easily, won at Chepstow 2m 3f beg chs (4) sft in Feb beating Matthew Muroto (10-12) by 5l, 10 ran.
Key Phil (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Chased clear leader, led after 8th, headed approaching 4 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Madison Du Berlais (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Feb.
