led, jumped right 1st, headed next, mistake 3rd, not fluent 8th, soon ridden, outpaced 4 out, driven and closed after 3 out, mistake and weakened 2 out
tracked leader, led 2nd, clear 2 out, not fluent last, easily
tracked leaders, went 2nd from 3rd, challenged 4 out until before next, soon ridden, no impression from 2 out
held up in last, keen early, outpaced after 7th, behind next
MENDIP EXPRESS has been alternating between hurdling and chasing and won easily over timber at Warwick before going very close in the Becher Chase at Aintree in December. Clear at the weights on today's terms, Harry Fry's charge is the one to beat. Beast Of Burden landed the odds in a novice event at Ffos Las recently and there should be more to come from him. He has 10lb in hand with Ballyboker Breeze while Castle View is even harder to fancy.
Ballyboker Breeze (IRE) 11-4 (11-8) Led, hard pressed 2 out, headed before last, ridden and kept on flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Donna's Diamond (10-9) at Kelso 2m 6f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) sft in Jan.
Beast Of Burden (IRE) 1-4fav (11-5) Made all, drawing clear when left further ahead last, unchallenged, won at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan beating Looks Like Power (11-5) by 27l, 9 ran.
Mendip Express (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway 15th (canal turn), tracked leading pair before 2 out, ridden to take 2nd approaching elbow, stayed on under pressure final 100 yards, held near finish, 2nd of 25, 3/4l behind Oscar Time (10-12) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Dec.
Castle View (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Mid-division, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 15, well behind A Vos Gardes (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f mdn hdl (5) gs in Jan.
