mid-division some headway after 3 out, ridden and one pace from next
held up in rear, stayed on approaching 2 out, soon no impression on leaders
chased leaders until ridden and weakened rapidly soon after 3 out, soon tailed off and eased
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened from next
always behind, struggling in rear 3 out
chased leader until ridden and lost place quickly 4th, soon driven and behind, tailed off and eased after 3 out
took keen hold in mid-division, hit 2nd, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, mistake 2 out, no extra
always behind, ridden and struggling soon after 3 out
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, plugged on under pressure from next
chased leaders, went 2nd 4th until ridden and weakened quickly before 2 out
raced in mid-division, ridden and lost place after 3 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened soon after 3 out
led, ridden and joined 2 out, headed bypassing last, kept on under pressure
NIKE WALKER may be able to continue his yard's good run of form by landing a competitive handicap in which Captain Tidds and Green Belt Elite may feature prominently. Nike Walker rattled off a hat-trick on his first three starts in handicap company in the spring of 2007 and made his seasonal return later that year in a Grade 2 hurdle at Wincanton. He fell there and showed little in two subsequent starts but his is not a yard known for tilting at windmills so it's reasonable to assume that Nike Walker is capable of holding his form in better company than this. He returned to form on his latest start for which he's gone up by 5lbs but we expect him to build on that performance. Captain Tidds has gone up 7lbs for beating Mars Rock which may not be too harsh given that the runner-up ran out an impressive winner at Uttoxeter on his next start. He has few miles on the clock and could be progressive. There are few yards in better form than Venetia Williams' and they are represented by Green Belt Elite who moves into handicap company for the first time. His debut performance in a Newton Abbot bumper hinted at ability and it would be no surprise to see him emerge as a major player with blinkers applied for the first time. Mistress To No One has claims if forgiven a poor run whilst Baby Car is unexposed and from a yard with a one in four strike rate at the track so is one to note in the market along with Insignia. However, the one that we expect to win is Nike Walker.
Prince du Seuil (FR) 12-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, hit 10th, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Ordre de Bataille (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Dec, 10 ran.
Captain Tidds (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Took keen hold, held up in rear, headway 2 out, led flat, driven out, won at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan beating Mars Rock (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Nike Walker (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Led, mistake 4th, clear 6 out, ridden after 3 out, headed flat, kept on, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Equilibria (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Insignia (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Prominent, ridden after 5th, close 5th when hit and hampered 2 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 16, 10l behind Tender Falcon (11-3) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Baby Car (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Held up, headway approaching 2nd, lost place before 4th, rear when blundered 2 out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 34l behind Captain Tidds (11-4) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Silver Prophet (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, weakened after 4th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Forty Five (10-7) at Ludlow 2m ldy hcp hdl (4) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Stance 8-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 7th, challenged approaching 2 out, led approaching last, driven out, won at Fontwell 2m 6f sll hdl (5) sft beating Head To Kerry (10-12) by 4l, 14 ran.
Green Belt Elite (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, raced keenly, never dangerous, 7th of 15, 30l behind Burton Port (11-4) at Hereford 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Mistress To No One 7-2fav (10-6) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, ridden when hit 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 11th of 14, well behind Wise Men Say (10-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Kilmeena Magic 14-1 (9-12) Held up in rear, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, stayed on to take 3rd flat, 3rd of 12, 9l behind Hohlethelonely (10-9) at Kempton 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Miss Pebbles (IRE) 17-2 (10-9) In touch, ridden 4 out, headway soon after, tracked winner 2 out, no chance, 2nd of 17, 7l behind Markila (11-11) at Ludlow 2m mrs hcp hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Danse Macabre (IRE) 33-1 (11-11) Mistakes, behind, hit 5th and next, tailed off when tried to refuse and refused at the 9th in race won by Mr Big (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 5f cnd hcp chs (5) gd in Jan, 14 ran.
Boogie Dancer 100-1 (11-2) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened, 13th of 17, 42l behind Markila (11-11) at Ludlow 2m mrs hcp hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Darksideofthemoon (IRE) 4-1co-fav (11-9) Mistake 1st and rider lost iron, mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up in race won by Charge It (11-7) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Sept, 17 ran.
