tracked leaders, effort before 3 out, ridden before next, kept on same pace, no impression with front pair between last 2
pressed leader, led narrowly before 7th, headed 4 out, ridden after next, no impression in 4th from 2 out
held up behind, headway after 5 out, tracked leaders when not fluent 3 out, upsides next, led narrowly between last 2, ridden out flat, held on
made most to before 7th, remained prominent, ridden and lost place after 4 out, weakened and pulled up approaching next
in touch on outside, shaken up after 4 out, soon no impression and pulled up quickly approaching next
tracked leaders, not fluent 8th, driven before 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up behind, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up behind, pushed along and not fluent 5 out, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before next
tracked leaders on inside, lost place when ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
always prominent on inside, led narrowly 4 out, ridden after next, joined 2 out, headed narrowly between last 2, kept on, just held
The majority are not currently in good form which makes for a difficult puzzle but CHARMIX has gone well enough on both starts since joining Lucinda Russell when filling the minor placing on each occasion at Aintree and Haydock in December. Trip and ground are fine and the gelding should be in the shake-up as he moves down a level to Class 4 company. Neachells Bridge has scope for improvement over fences and looks one for all shortlists with his penultimate run when third at Ascot rating the best of his four chase efforts. We may not have seen the best of Valence D'Aumont and he has a decent each-way claim off what looks a potentially attractive mark.
Down The Highway (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Mid-division, pushed along after 13th, weakened before next, tailed off, 9th of 11, dist behind Burbank (10-12) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Charmix (FR) 13-2 (11-5) Bumped 1st, soon back in mid-division, closed 7th, went 3rd 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 8, 5 1/4l behind Ravenhill Road (11-9) at Haydock 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Neachells Bridge (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, driven to challenge 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 6 1/4l behind Fortified Bay (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Cave Top (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, not fluent 5th, ridden and lost place before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Fionn Mac Cul (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Led until after 7th, soon pushed along and weakened, eased and pulled up before 3 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in May.
Truckers Highway (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) In rear, jumped right 1st, not fluent and behind 10th, pulled up after, at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Belargus (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Held up in mid-division, mistake 8th, headway next, every chance 2 out, held last, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Prairie Town (11-4) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Valence D'Aumont (FR) 6-1 (11-1) Made most, hit 12th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, well held in 4th from last, 4th of 6, 9l behind Knockrobin (11-12) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Fact Flow (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Held up in touch, one pace from 4 out, 4th of 7, 20 1/2l behind One Style (11-7) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Pembroke House 16-1 (10-2) Held up, progress 8th, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 7, 34 1/2l behind One Style (11-7) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
