chased leaders, shaken up to challenge approaching 3 out, kept on well closing stages, never reached winner
held up in rear but in touch, mistake 6th, weakened 3 out
made all, quickened before 3 out, hard driven next, stayed on strongly
tracked leader, keen early, outpaced 3 out, weakened approaching last
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, struggling before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
BURBANK is penalised for winning at Huntingdon last month but still has the beating of these on today’s terms. Tree Of Liberty would have finished closer to the winner at Doncaster if not for blundering at the last hurdle but Winningtry may improve past him in this. Paul Nicholls’ charge only found one too good when failing to land the odds at Taunton in November but Katalystic and Maple Stirrup are hard to fancy on their modest form to date.
Burbank (IRE) 8-15fav (11-5) Mid-division, closed 5th, soon outpaced, rallied after 3 out, led before next, clear last, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 2m mdn (4) gs in Jan beating Man From Mars (11-5) by 7l, 11 ran.
Katalystic (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 7th of 13, dist behind Seemorelights (10-12) at Kelso 2m (4) hvy in Jan.
Tree Of Liberty (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Tracked leader, led 5th, driven after 2 out, headed when mistake last, no impression on winner flat, one pace, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Lough Derg Farmer (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 5f mdn (5) gd in Jan.
Winningtry (IRE) 8-13fav (10-12) Led and disputed, hit 3 out, joined last, headed and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Misterton (10-12) at Taunton 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Maple Stirrup (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, weakened from 3 out, 8th of 10, 20 3/4l behind Appy Days (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m (4) gd in Jan.
