held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, went 3rd before 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked leader until 5 out, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden and one pace in 4th from 2 out
led, ridden before 2 out, headed last, kept on and held near finish
held up towards rear, headway 8 out, went 2nd from 5 out, challenged 2 out, led last, held on towards finish
held up mid-division, weakened before 4 out, refused and unseated rider 3 out
in rear, lost place from 7 out, weakened before 4 out
MASTER BURBIDGE (NAP) has been in cracking form over hurdles, sauntering home for a second successive victory at Taunton eight days ago. He can race off the same mark on his chasing bow and must take all the beating if handling the switch to fences. Hawkhurst would have been placed at Kelso last month had he not unseated his rider at the last but, like Rolling Thunder and Clues And Arrows, is starting to look exposed. The remaining trio are even harder to fancy.
Hawkhurst (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) In touch in 4th, left 3rd from 6th, left 2nd from 7th, soon back in 3rd place, left 2nd again 2 out, about length down when blundered last, soon jinked right and unseated rider, at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Christmas Twenty (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders in 3rd when mistake and unseated rider 6th, at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Clues And Arrows (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, tailed off halfway, soon pulled up, at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Rolling Thunder (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Led to 2nd, remained close up, weakened from 7 out, left remote 4th from 2 out, 4th of 6, dist behind Milly Baloo (11-1) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Master Burbidge 4-1fav (11-13) Travelled well in mid-division, smooth headway on inside 7th, tracking leaders next, led approaching 2 out, 2 lengths ahead last, came clear run-in, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Mar beating Tikkinthebox (11-9) by 4 1/2l, 16 ran.
Pettal 33-1 (10-9) Always behind, 8th of 10, dist behind Ypsilanti (10-11) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Mr Witmore (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Jumped left throughout, always behind, tailed off when went badly left 4 out, 5th of 7, dist behind Cleve Cottage (10-1) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
