led, raced slightly wide and sometimes jumped left, ridden approaching 2 out, edged left and headed before last, soon beaten, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3rd, challenged 2 out, led before last, soon clear, pushed out
mistake and unseated rider 1st
held up, pecked 5th, soon left behind
held up, not jump well, lost touch from 4th
chased winner until before 3rd, not fluent 3 out, one pace 2 out, no extra last
Chepstow winner Such A Legend is a rare runner here for Gloucestershire handler Kim Bailey but Katachenko probably sets the standard. Donald McCain's charge has won his last two, at Musselburgh and Kelso, though it's a worry that he hasn't managed a victory in three previous runs over this shorter trip. MIXED MESSAGE has had a couple of runs on the Flat to blow away any cobwebs and beat a subsequent winner on his only start over timber at Wetherby in October. He gets plenty of weight from the older horses and could be a bit of value, though Tough Trade has been highly tried since winning at Kelso in December.
Katachenko (IRE) 4-9fav (11-6) Led, mistake 3 out, clear before last, eased towards finish, won at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) sft beating Another Mattie (10-13) by 7l, 9 ran.
Such A Legend 4-7fav (10-8) Held up in 5th, headway to 3rd 4 out, challenged between last 2, led last, idled flat, ridden out, won at Chepstow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs beating Rock On Rocky (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Tough Trade 11-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 5th, 3 lengths down and staying on when fell heavily 3 out, in a race won by Kilgefin Star (11-6) at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar, 13 ran.
Carthaginian (IRE) 5-1 (9-9) Held up in touch, pushed along and lost place over 3f out, well beaten final 2f, 10th of 12, well behind Arc Light (9-4) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Jul (flat).
Maraweh (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, hampered 1st, headway after 5th, pushed along before 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 9, 22l behind Katachenko (11-6) at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Mixed Message (IRE) 15-8fav (10-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 5th, led 2 out, held on well, won at Wetherby 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct beating Nellie Forbush (10-5) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.