made all, clear 3 out, hit last, unchallenged
held up in 4th, ridden before 5th, went 2nd after 3 out, no chance with winner
disputed 2nd until 5th, hit 3 out and weakened
disputed 2nd, went 2nd 5th until after 3 out, no chance with winner, plugged on
always in rear, weakened 5th, tailed off and eased from 3 out
It's over a year since MARODIMA last ran over hurdles but he's been going well over fences and this looks a very good opportunity despite the weight concession to Saltagioo. The former will find Brendan Powell's charge a strong opponent though he has a very long absence to overcome. His rider's claim is a bonus as it is for Penn Da Benn, another who is better known as a chaser. Bin End won a maiden at Leicester on firm ground in November so conditions should be ideal while Olympian, the winner of four races over timber, has been showing little over the bigger obstacles and should do better.
Marodima (FR) 11-4 (11-9) Led, clear 2nd until 4th, not fluent 8th, headed 3 out, lost 2nd under pressure next, no extra between last 2, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Niceonefrankie (11-8) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Olympian (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Towards rear, some headway 4 out, ridden and no progress next, tailed off, 7th of 8, 32l behind Amaury De Lusignan (11-9) at Folkestone 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Bin End 25-1 (10-11) In rear, struggling after 4th, lost touch 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, in a race won by Charm School (11-7) at Newbury 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd, 11 ran.
Penn Da Benn (FR) 3-1fav (10-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd 6th until before 2 out, no extra before last, 4th of 8, 4l behind Small Fly (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f sell hdl (5) gd.
Saltagioo (ITY) 9-2 (11-3) Mid-division, took keen hold, not fluent 2nd, headway after 3rd, led narrowly last, headed close home, 2nd of 10, shd behind Russian George (11-8) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (3) gf in Sep '10.
