raced wide, chased leaders, lost place 6f out, ridden and weakened over 4f out, tailed off
led, clear over 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, chased leading pair, no impression, weakened into 4th over 1f out
held up in close 5th, smooth headway tracking leaders 4f out, disputing lead from over 2f out, won on the nod
tracked leader until 5f out, chased leading pair until 4f out, outpaced in 4th over 3f out, plugged on into modest 3rd over 1f out
tracked leading pair, 2nd 5f out, disputing lead from over 2f out, hung right under pressure inside final furlong, lost on the nod
Nautical Nitwit was due to run in one of these at Southwell yesterday and his participation may be in doubt. AHEAD OF THE CURVE will find this on the short side but his jumping form is easily the best on offer. He followed up a third at Doncaster in December with a close-up fourth over 3m at Musselburgh so is preferred to Western Rules, two from two in bumpers on the jumps course here back in 2014. Shake It Up is a dour stayer chaser who is unlikely to have the pace for this but Arizona Bound won a bumper on good ground last year for Gordon Elliott and may appreciate a return to this sphere.
Arizona Bound (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) In touch on outside, lost place and pushed along before 6th, reminders after next, lost touch 9th, continued tailed off, 5th of 6, dist behind Red River (11-5) at Musselburgh 3m (2) sft in Feb.
Azert De Coeur (FR) 50-1 (11-8) Mid-division, reminders after 6th, soon weakened, 9th of 14, 26 1/4l behind Camron De Chaillac (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Nautical Nitwit (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, led before 2 out, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Gunfleet (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Shake It Up (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Chased leading pair, outpaced 4 out, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 6, dist behind Lowanbehold (10-5) at Hexham 4m hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Western Rules (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Mid-division, ridden and headway before 3 out, kept on from 2 out, no impression, 4th of 20, 14l behind Kansas City Chief (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Ahead of The Curve (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, ridden before 3 out, weakened last 50 yards, 4th of 9, 3 3/4l behind Cresswell Legend (11-2) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Exit To Freedom 22-1 (10-0) Chased leader to 2nd, in touch, behind and struggling from 4th, tailed off 3 out, last of 5, dist behind Ninepointsixthree (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
