made all, not fluent 5th, pressed when left 5 lengths clear 2 out, hung left approaching last and flat, held on
close 3rd, not fluent 9th, hit 3 out, outpaced when not fluent and left 5 lengths 2nd 2 out, closed flat, stayed on, always just held
tracked winner, challenging when fell 2 out
MENTALIST should be approaching peak fitness now after a couple of outings and Venetia Williams's six-year-old, only a pound higher than when winning at Southwell last March, is fancied to see off November's Uttoxeter third Ringa Bay, though the latter is now back on a winning mark. Strawberry Hill won a novices' handicap at Fontwell last time but has been raised 8lb since and the hot favourite that day failed to give his true running.
Ringa Bay 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, went 2nd from 3rd, ridden after 5 out, not fluent 4 out, one pace flat, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Duke Of Monmouth (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Nov.
Mentalist (FR) 6-1 (11-9) Held up behind, ridden and headway to chase leaders before 4 out, soon outpaced, weakened from next, 4th of 10, 29l behind Wychwoods Brook (11-12) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Strawberry Hill (IRE) 5-2 (11-8) Tracked leader, ridden after 2 out, challenged last, led flat, stayed on, drawing clear towards finish, won at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov beating Red Rock (11-9) by 7l, 5 ran.
