led, pushed along after 2 out, driven flat, headed towards finish, stayed on
held up, slightly hampered 1st, went 3rd before 2nd, went 2nd 3 out, switched right before last, shaken up approaching last, ridden to lead towards finish
veered left and unseated rider 1st
held up in last, hampered 4th, closed after next, outpaced after 3 out, weakened next, mistake last
left 2nd briefly 1st, held up in touch, jumped slowly 2nd, went left 4th, not fluent 5th, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next
slightly hampered 1st, soon chasing leader, lost 2nd and shaken up 3 out, weakening when jumped left last
Modus was placed in Grade 1 bumpers at Cheltenham and Punchestown in the spring and made no mistake on his hurdling debut at Taunton, despite sweating freely. But this will be a sterner examination of his potential and CHARMIX may be a tough nut to crack. The latter showed jumping would be his game when holding off Ennistown, who had won his first two, on soft going at Wetherby – the second has gone close since in a Class 2 handicap and the third won in a canter at the same track yesterday. Despite problems with his tack, See The World easily won a Wincanton bumper on his sole start and has a future.
Charmix (FR) 5-2fav (11-0) Led until 6th, led again before 3 out, pressed until last, stayed on well, won at Wetherby 2m (3) sft in Oct beating Ennistown (11-8) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Modus 1-3fav (10-12) Mid-division, closed 4th, went 2nd before 2 out, led last, shaken up to assert flat, readily, won at Taunton 2m 3f (3) gd in Nov beating General Ginger (11-8) by 3 3/4l, 12 ran.
Acajou Des Bieffes (FR) 50-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 12, 31l behind Modus (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f (3) gd in Nov.
Allee Bleue (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway after 5th, went 4th 7th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, eased and pulled up before next, at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) gs in Nov.
Burning Desire (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Close up, hampered 12f out, tracked leader 8f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Danglydontask (8-13) at Bath 2m 1f hcp (5) gf in Oct.
See The World 7-1 (11-4) Prominent, led 6f out, clear when hung badly left on home turn and bit slipped, soon headed and lost momentum, recovered to chase clear leader final furlong, led again inside final 150 yards, won going away, won at Wincanton 2m (6) hvy in Jan beating Lincoln County (10-7) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
