With Mix N Match and Eddie Dowling having both been well held behind Woodlark Island at Wincanton on Sunday, this really should lie between the other three runners in the race with the vote going the way of SALONTYRE. John Llewellyn's gelding was three times a winner on the flat in Norway and opened his account for current connections when landing a handicap hurdle at Bangor last month when beating Reland by 17 lengths and he looks worth another chance on the evidence of that run, although he has been beaten off the same mark that he races off today in his last two outings. The Venetia Williams-trained Quantique disappointed at Kempton last time in November and is surely better than he showed that day but he has yet to confirm that he handles ground this testing. Tim Vaughan's Tar has been running creditably on the flat of late but he has yet to win a race under either code after 21 starts and looks best watched in a race taken to go to Salontyre.
Tar (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Chased winner, no impression when lost 2nd approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 9, 25l behind Beautiful Vision (11-3) at Ludlow 2m sell hdl (5) gs in Feb.
Quantique (FR) 6-1 (10-7) Chased leader, led approaching 2 out where stongly pressed and jumped left, headed between last 2, 5th and weakening when blundered last, 10th of 14, 33l behind Akram (11-6) at Kempton 2m cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gd in Nov.
Salontyre (GER) 13-2 (9-13) Chased leaders, went badly left then right 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 16, 11l behind The Disengager (10-6) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Mix N Match 20-1 (11-7) Always behind, 9th of 12, well behind Woodlark Island (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs.
Eddie Dowling 66-1 (11-7) Mid-division, under pressure 6th, soon beaten, 10th of 12, well behind Woodlark Island (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs.
