chased leaders, jumped right throughout, led just after 2 out, stayed on well
prominent, led after 4 out, blundered and unseated rider 2 out
chasing leaders when blundered and unseated rider 4th
led until after 4 out, rallied after next, weakened before last
An interesting contest, despite the small field. MR MIX is probably too high in the weights over hurdles nowadays so a switch to chasing is not unexpected - he’s probably the one to beat if his jumping holds up. Bonnet's Vino won a novices’ handicap here in December but this is a better race. Omessa Has has more scope and has already been placed over fences while Zeroeshadesofgrey won over the larger obstacles at Wetherby in the autumn and his latest run was over hurdles.
Bonnet's Vino 6-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 13 1/4l behind Special Wells (11-10) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Mr Mix (FR) 11-1 (11-12) Mid-division, closer approaching 6th, pushed along before next, ridden and weakened before 8th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next, at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (1) hvy in Feb.
Prince Of Steal (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Held up in last pair, making headway on outside when not fluent 7th and pushed along, weakened after 3 out, pulled up soon after, at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Omessa Has (FR) 16-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, driven and one pace in 5th run-in, 5th of 15, 6l behind Doesyourdogbite (11-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Zeroeshadesofgrey (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, not fluent 9th or 3 out, ridden after 2 out, weakened before last, last of 7, 33l behind Cogry (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.