led, joined 5th, headed 8th, joined leader again 13th until 4 out, ridden to chase winner 2 out, no impression
tracked leader until 5th, tracked leaders, headway to lead 4 out, clear 2 out, heavily eased flat
tracked leaders, led 8th, headed 4 out, rider dropped whip soon after, chased winner until 2 out, soon weakened (dismounted)
NonRunner
NonRunner
Mr Mix, who was trained by Paul Nicholls under Rules, won an open point-to-point in February but was weakening when unseating four at in the Foxhunters' at Aintree. He'll be receiving plenty of weight from Nicholls' UNIONISTE, but the latter is a smart performer at this level and was having only his second run in a year when just failing to concede Optimised 8lb at Bangor. Play The Aces ran in a Grade 3 handicap at Ascot in November but was well beaten when making his debut in a similar race to this at Perth last month. Steele's terrace hasn't had much experience and only had two to beat at Higham but Asockastar will find this less daunting that at Cheltenham and Aintree having won a novices' hunter-chase at Leicester previously.
Unioniste (FR) 9-4 (12-6) Chased leader to 9th, ridden approaching last, every chance flat, stayed on, 2nd of 4, shd behind Optimised (11-12) at Bangor-on-Dee 3m (6) sft in Mar.
Asockastar (IRE) 50-1 (12-0) Chased leaders to 15th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, at Aintree 2m 5f (2) sft in Apr.
Mr Mix (FR) 20-1 (12-0) Mid-division, struggling 14th, blundered and unseated rider next, at Aintree 2m 5f (2) sft in Apr.
Steeles Terrace (IRE) 10-11fav (11-7) A.p; led 3 out; drvn out, won at Higham 3m gf in Apr beating Kriss William (11-7) by 4l, 3 ran.
Play The Ace (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 7 out, ridden before 3 out, weakened from last, 4th of 6, 33 1/2l behind Mr Mercurial (12-6) at Perth 3m (4) gd in Apr.
