tracked leading pair, closer before 4 out, not fluent 8th, soon pushed along, ridden and stayed on into 2nd at the last, kept on same pace flat
made virtually all, not fluent 6th, in command before 2 out, kept on well flat
raced touch keenly, chased winner, pushed along before 3 out, ridden and no impression before 2 out, lost 2nd at the last, kept on same pace flat
There's not a lot between the three runners in this but Brick Red is the only one of the trio with a recent run under his belt. He ran in snatches at Ascot but will strip fitter here. Mr Mole won at Warwick and Newton Abbot last season but he's a quirky individual and he will struggle to find cover in this small field. OPEN HEARTED has only had two runs over fences so should have plenty more to offer. Nicky Henderson's charge gets 7lb from his two rivals here and that could prove decisive.
Brick Red 5-1 (11-5) Soon towards rear, last pair when mistake 4th, went left and mistake next, mistake 7th, closer order on outside approaching 4 out, driven along disputing well held 4th before 2 out, disputing well held 2nd between last two, no extra in 5th last, 6th of 10, 29l behind Croco Bay (10-8) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs (2) sft in Nov.
Mr Mole (IRE) 1-5fav (11-4) Made all, mistake last, shaken up run-in, kept on, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Apr beating Master Mariner (10-5) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Open Hearted 15-8 (11-7) Sweating, took keen hold tracking leading pair, pushed along briefly on paddock bend after 5th, not fluent and pushed along 8th, blundered next, went 2nd after 10th, no chance with unchallenged winner before 4 out, 2nd of 4, 21l behind Vukovar (10-8) at Newbury 2m 2f nov chs (3) sft in Dec '13.
