held up, not fluent 1st, tracked leaders, led 4 out, clear approaching 2 out, easy
tracked leader, led approaching 8th, headed next, soon ridden and beaten, eased flat
soon well behind
led, ridden and headed approaching 8th, weakening and mistake next
Don't Push It looks an exciting prospect and he gets the vote over Phar Bleu. The selection drops back in trip today as his trainer is still considering the horse for a tilt at the Arkle in March. His trainer feels that he has plenty of speed and this looks a could race to test out his theory. The form of his close second to the excellent Denman and subsequent defeat of Mr Appointment is top class and he must have too many guns for these rivals today. Phar Bleu won on his chasing debut over course and distance, however he had looked beaten that day until the late fall of his main rival and will need to step up significantly today to repeat that win. Ice Crystal and Mibleu both ran just three days ago, however if they take their chance today they will be out of their depth and will surely be hoping just to get round. Ultimately this looks a straightforward task for Don't Push It to win again and provide his trainer with some Cheltenham engagement dilemmas.
Don't Push It (IRE) 8-11fav (11-5) Held up, blundered 10th, headway 4 out to track leaders, led and not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, kept on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) sft in Dec beating Mr Pointment (11-5) by 2l, 7 ran.
Phar Bleu (FR) 2-7fav (11-2) Led 2nd, blundered 8th, joined 3 out, disputing lead when left clear last, won at Plumpton 2m 1f nov chs (3) sft in Jan beating Carly Bay (10-9) by a distance, 4 ran.
Ice Crystal 66-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, driven along from 6th, weakened 9th, 11th of 12, well behind Rockys Girl (9-7) at Taunton 3m amt hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Mibleu (FR) 50-1 (11-2) fell at the 2nd in race won by Always Waining (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f beg chs (4) sft in Jan, 8 ran.
