tracked leading pair, held in pocket before 2 out, stayed on run-in, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
led, joined 2 out, ridden and headed last, readily outpaced by winner run-in, weakened into 3rd towards finish
kept out very wide, tracked leader, flattened 3rd, not fluent 4 out, lost 2nd before 2 out, soon weakened, poor 5th when pulled up before last
raced wide chasing leading trio until after 4th, behind next, tailed off
raced keenly in rear, gained a place at 6th, tailed off 3 out
raced keenly in last pair, good headway before 4 out, chased leaders next, went 2nd going well before 2 out, led and good jump last, quickened readily clear run-in
held up in 5th, challenged out wide 3 out, pushed along and weakened before next, tailed off
Successful in a Thurles bumper in March, COMPLETE UNKNOWN hasn’t been beaten far in two runs over hurdles since joining Paul Nicholls and can open his account over timber today ahead of Newbury third Kincardine, who will know more today. Nico de Boinville partners the latter in preference to points winner City Chief. Soldier Of Destiny won a point last month and was fourth over hurdles at Punchestown a year ago so is no forlorn hope.
City Chief (IRE) (11-11) Chsd ldrs, drpd to 6th by 6th, prog in 4th well bef 3out, 2l 3rd from 3out, clsr 3rd bef last, ld cl hm, snugly, won at Tralee 3m mdn hvy in May beating Knowsley Road (11-11) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Complete Unknown (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Raced handy, headway before 2 out travelling strongly, ridden before last, stayed on but not getting to winner, 2nd of 15, 2l behind Ree Okka (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec.
Kincardine 13-2 (10-11) Held up behind leaders, shaken up after 3 out, driven after 2 out, 3rd and held last, no extra flat, 3rd of 5, 16 1/2l behind Stage Star (11-4) at Newbury 2m 5f (3) gs in Nov.
Largy Nights (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Led to 2 out, ridden and weakened before last, 5th of 10, 23 1/4l behind Winter Getaway (10-7) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn (4) sft in Oct.
Money Spinner (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Held up off the pace in last pair, never on terms, 7th of 10, dist behind Monbeg Genius (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Oct.
Party Business (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Held up, pushed along and headway 2 out, kept on same pace, 8th of 15, 13 1/4l behind Hartur D'oudairies (10-12) at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Soldier Of Destiny (IRE) 2-1fav (12-0) (tt) led 3; lft clr 4 out; easy, won at Ffos Las P-t-p Course 2m 5f mdn sft in Nov beating Stellar Stream (11-7) by 20l, 12 ran.
