chased leaders, led 2 out, ridden and headed before last, stayed on same pace flat
in touch, weakened and not fluent 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders on inside, wenrt 2nd before 2 out, ridden to lead before last where went left, kept up to work and kept on well flat
took keen hold in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 4th, pushed along in 4th 2 out, went modest 3rd before last
held up towards rear, stayed on from 2 out, went 5th before last, stayed on into 4th run-in
mid-division, hit 4 out, pushed along after 3 out, weakened before next
soon struggling in rear, lost touch 3rd, soon tailed off
jumped left, took keeen hold in rear, struggling 3rd, soon lost touch, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
led until ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened quickly
took keen hold in mid-division, pushed along and struggling in 6th before 2 out, dived at 2 out and weakened
held up off the pace towards rear, never on terms, tailed off
chased leader, led before 2 out, until 2 out, chased leaders, weakened quickly before last
Nordic Quest got off the mark at Wincanton last month having been placed in all three previous starts over timber. He's going to find life tougher from now on under a penalty and might struggle to give 7lb to HUFF AND PUFF. Venetia Williams' charge is still improving over obstacles and it's difficult to see Laser Blazer reversing Newbury running in March on identical terms, though the latter also has some scope. Zip Wire showed promise at Catterick in December but may need softer ground. Unsinkable was racing in Listed races on the Flat around this time last year but Jonjo O'Neill's novices often need a run.
Nordic Quest (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, led before last, soon clear, easily, won at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr beating Stella's Fella (11-0) by 8l, 9 ran.
Howlett (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 5th, weakened before 3 out, 9th of 11, well behind Three Kingdoms (11-5) at Leicester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Huff And Puff 7-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, hit 3rd, went 2nd before 3 out, led 3 out, hung left before 2 out, ridden and headed before last, no chance with easy winner, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Sign Of A Victory (11-0) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Laser Blazer 20-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, mistake 4 out, headway on inside before 3 out, went modest 3rd before next, 3rd of 12, 22l behind Sign Of A Victory (11-0) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Paloma's Prince (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 11th of 13, 9l behind Certavi (9-6) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov (flat).
Ree's Rascal (IRE) 14-1 (9-6) Held up in rear, headway over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Red Runaway (8-13) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Apr (flat).
Reflect (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Tracked leader until ridden 5th, mistake 3 out, soon in rear, 4th of 6, 45l behind Churchfield Champ (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Aug '12.
Speed Check (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Twrds rr of mid div, prog to 8th 1/2way, mstk 5out, prog to 6th after 5out, rdn in 4th after 2out, ko onepced, 4th of 16, 9l behind Ballyheigue Bay (11-6) at Ballydarragh 3m ire ptp gs in Feb.
Strategic Action (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 12, 4l behind Olivers Mount (9-3) at Lingfield 1m hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Apr (flat).
King Muro 8-1 (10-2) Led, soon clear, headed before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 27l behind Stiff Upper Lip (10-9) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Markttag 66-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, soon no impression, 10th of 17, 40l behind Oscar Hoof (11-7) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Portmonarch (IRE) 11-2 (9-7) Prominent, led after 1f, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 13l behind Prospera (9-6) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep (flat).
Unsinkable (IRE) 25-1 (8-7) Led, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, soon weakened, 14th of 17, 19l behind Ocean Tempest (9-3) at Doncaster 1m hcp (4yo+) (2) sft in Mar (flat).
Maria's Choice (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Pulled hard early, soon tailed off, last of 9, well behind Such A Legend (10-8) at Chepstow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Zip Wire (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Prominent, pushed along over 2f out, ridden well over 1f out, no impression when lost 3rd over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 15, 10l behind Presenting Arms (10-9) at Kempton 2m 2f n h flat (4) std in Feb.
