pulled hard, soon in close 4th, ridden and struggling after 2 out, tailed off
tracked leader pair, went 2nd going well on inside well before last, upsides last, driven ahead near finish
chased leader, reminders after 7th, ridden and lost 2nd well before last, soon no chance with front pair
never travelling, soon in 5th, blundered 3rd, blundered badly next, pulled up
reared, hit 2nd, struggling after 8th, struggling when jumped badly left 2 out, tailed off
led, hit 6th, ridden well before last, joined last, driven and took narrow advantage running until headed near finish
The cheek-pieces remain absent on Vinmix De Bessy which is a cause for concern (last two wins in them), and so preference is for a back-to form COACH LANE. The first horse to catch they eye when first looking at the race is Baseball Ted who has a light weight and may still be on the right side of the handicapper. However he went too quickly last time out (form let down too) and with Keepthedreamalive and Consigliere horses who have raced prominently in the past, the feeling is that he may be pestered into going too quick. Vinmix De Bessy ran well for a long way last time out but he then folded tamely; the market may help guide to his chance today and another reason to take him on may be that he has never carried more than 11 stone 4lb to victory. Coach Lane is selected, as the stable continue to hit the mark and this gelding is now down to a mark of 126. Having won off 123 in the past, and obliged three times on ground described as heavy, the eight-year-old looks worth chancing. Consigliere is progressing well but he has a further rise in the weights to overcome in this better race, and so the feeling is that Coach Lane can be driven home in front.
Vinmix De Bessy (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Keen, headway 8th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 6th of 8, 47l behind Lorient Express (10-10) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
Consigliere (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Left in lead 1st, settled behind leader 4th, led 4 out, hard pressed 2 out, driven out flat, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan beating Katess (11-11) by 2l, 4 ran.
Keepthedreamalive 20-1 (11-7) Led 2nd until 8th, reminders 11th, soon lost place, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Tartak (11-7) at Kempton 2m 4f Grad Ch (2) gs.
Coach Lane 14-1 (11-10) Held up mid-division, reminders after 5th, soon struggling, 7th of 15, well behind Almaydan (11-12) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Captain Marlon (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) In touch until dropped to rear 8th, no chance after, tailed off when jumped left last 3, 6th of 7, well behind Tartak (11-7) at Kempton 2m 4f Grad Ch (2) gs.
Baseball Ted (IRE) 7-4fav (11-7) Led, ridden 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened flat, 2nd of 13, 6l behind Oscar Jack (11-1) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
