tracked leaders, mistake 1st, pushed along after 7 out and outpaced, kept on from 3 out, went 3rd from last, no impression
with leaders, led 5th, clear before 4 out, eased run-in
led to 5th, pushed along before 6 out, soon in rear, weakened from 5 out
in touch, went 2nd from 9th, kept on from 2 out, no chance with winner
in rear, went 3rd before 5 out, lost 3rd place when no extra from last
NonRunner
Casablanca Mix would have followed up her Huntingdon victory at Exeter last month had she not come down at the last. She’ll be fancied to gain compensation but got nowhere near RENE’S GIRL at Worcester in the autumn and the pair meet on the same terms. Dan Skelton’s mare was too keen next time at Bangor but this is a track that usually favours front-runners. Same Circus was stopped in her tracks by a mistake last time at Wetherby but was still beaten under two lengths though, along with Song Saa and the others, has a mountain to climb on these terms if the principals run up to their mark.
Miss Tongabezi 40-1 (11-4) Always prominent, left in lead 9th, headed 12th, led again before 3 out, challenged after 2 out, stayed on well, won at Towcester 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Dec beating Kayfleur (11-1) by 5l, 14 ran.
Rene's Girl (IRE) 15-8 (11-0) Led until approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 5, 19 3/4l behind Lady Buttons (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f lst (1) sft in Nov.
Same Circus (IRE) 10-11fav (11-12) Led, slow 2nd, headed when bad mistake next, led again before 6th, headed next, under pressure 10th, soon outpaced, rallied 2 out, stayed on strongly closing stages, 3rd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Sheneededtherun (10-10) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Song Saa 6-1 (11-13) Mid-division, headway 10th, went 3rd after 3 out, not 2 out, no impression, weakened last, 3rd of 9, 22l behind Ms Parfois (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Twenty Eight Guns 6-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th, blundered and rider lost irons briefly 8th, badly hampered and unseated rider 12th, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Casablanca Mix (FR) 5-4fav (11-6) Tracked leading pair, 2nd at 6th, closed approaching 4 out, led travelling well next, clear 2 out, 8 lengths ahead when fell last, at Exeter 2m 1f (3) sft in Dec.