not fluent virtually throughout, led after 1st, made rest, mistake 7th, ridden clear approaching 2 out, stayed on well
led to after 1st, tracked leaders, hit 8th, went 2nd 10th, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, no chance with winner when jumped right from next
tracked winner 2nd, lost place 10th, ridden and outpaced 3 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression
in rear, reminder 6th, blundered next, struggling 10th, never near leaders
chased leaders in 4th on outside, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next
Don't Tell Nina may be capable of better but this should chiefly concern SONNY MULLEN and Victory Surge. The latter won at Bangor and Kempton earlier in the season but hasn't raced since disappointing when favourite for his hat-trick bid at Huntingdon in November so preference is for Kim Bailey's charge. The top weight is a pound lower than when a fair second at Ascot on his penultimate start and won his bumper on fast ground. Global Flyer has been well beaten in both starts over the larger obstacles and is worth taking on here as well.
Sonny Mullen (IRE) 3-1fav (11-5) Led to 12th, ridden approaching and jumped right 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 11, 32l behind Mostly Bob (11-12) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) gd in Jan.
Victory Surge (IRE) 5-4fav (11-3) Mistakes, chased leaders, dropped to last 13th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out, last of 5, 32l behind Ovthenight (10-9) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Global Flyer 14-1 (11-12) Towards rear, headway approaching 11th, soon lost place, weakened 4 out, 6th of 10, 35l behind Sawpit Supreme (10-8) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Don't Tell Nina (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, bumped 1st, in touch in mid-division, headway 3rd, not fluent 6th, lost place approaching 11th, well held after, 6th of 10, 19l behind Island Jim (11-2) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Feb.
Zhukov (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Prominent, took keen hold, chased winner 2nd, not fluent 6th, ridden 10th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Goring One (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Mar.
