in rear, not fluent 1st, weakened after 4 out
held up towards rear, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, plugged on and went 4th before last, never dangerous
in rear, headway before 4 out, soon went 3rd, weakened from next
tracked leaders in 3rd until 4th, pushed along next, soon lost place, weakened before 3 out
tracked leader, led before 3 out, went left 2 out, soon clear, ran on strongly
led and keen, pushed along before 3 out, soon headed, no im pression on winner from 2 out
mid-division, went 3rd and mistake 4th, one pace from 3 out
Nonrunner
ZUIDER ZEE is difficult to oppose in this opener. A smart stayer on the level, he made a pleasing debut over hurdles at Doncaster for John Ferguson when second to Minella Forfitness. Given the winner and third-placed Aaim To Prosper have both won since, he's likely to start a short price for this. A multiple winner on the Flat, Fred Willetts made a less auspicious debut over timber when well beaten at Sedgefield and Hallmark Star makes more appeal having finished runner-up over track and trip the last twice. Irish raider Ballymullough Glen got no further than the second hurdle on his first start over obstacles but can do better along with Titus Bolt.
Ballymullough Glen (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders when fell 2nd, in a race won by Seriatim (11-5) at Punchestown 3m mdn hdl sft in May, 13 ran.
Clondaw Flicka (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, tailed off 6th, 6th of 10, 32l behind Ballybogey (11-4) at Ayr 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Danehills Well (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, weakened 4f out, 9th of 16, well behind Dance Of Time (11-5) at Doncaster 2m NH flat (6) gs in Jan.
Fred Willetts (IRE) 40-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, slow 4th, ridden and struggling next, tailed off, 8th of 11, 46l behind Runswick Royal (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Zuider Zee (GER) 3-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, headway before 5th, led 4 out, headed last, soon switched left, not quicken, 2nd of 21, 2l behind Minella Forfitness (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f mdn hdl (5) gd in Feb.
Hallmark Star 11-4 (10-7) Led, ridden before 2 out, headed narrowly last, kept on gamely, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Deepsand (10-7) at Ayr 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Feb.
Titus Bolt (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, led, not fluent 1st, headed 6th, no impression from 3 out, 5th of 7, 22l behind Sametegal (11-8) at Musselburgh 2m 4yo hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Franky Spec (IRE) 100-1 (10-10) Always towards rear, last of 11, well behind Broadway Buffalo (11-3) at Newcastle 2m NH mdn hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
