made all, soon clear, canter
chased clear winner until before 4th, weakened next
held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, chased winner after 3 out, no impression
tracked leaders, lost place 4th, weakened from 2 out
held up behind, headway 3 out, went 3rd before last, one pace
tracked leaders in 3rd, chased winner before 4th, one pace from 2 out
held up towards rear, weakened from 3 out
towards rear, ridden and weakened after 5th
towards rear, unseated rider 2nd
Special Mix caught the attention of the Wetherby stewards when a staying-on sixth last month. He remains capable of better and makes more appeal than Catterick and Carlisle runner-up Glasson Lad and the four-year-old Blue Top, who hasn't raced since finishing third at Doncaster in November. But COUNSEL is back in the right grade after an abortive trip to Cheltenham for the Fred Winter and Donald McCain's charge may be good enough to defy his double penalty.
Counsel (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Prominent, weakened approaching 3 out, 22nd of 24, well behind Flaxen Flare (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4yo) (1) gs in Mar.
Daniel's Dream 100-1 (9-7) In touch, effort 3 out, soon weakened, 13th of 17, 31l behind Flora's Pride (11-4) at Catterick 2m 3f am hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.
Glasson Lad (IRE) 13-2 (10-6) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, challenged before last, kept on and always held by winner, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Mitchell's Way (11-8) at Carlisle 2m 3f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gd in Mar.
Magic Haze 33-1 (11-3) Chased leaders to before 3 out, soon behind, 9th of 14, 45l behind Chat Room (11-6) at Catterick 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Dec.
Special Mix 17-2 (10-7) Held up behind, hampered 4th, some headway before 3 out, kept on same pace from next, never reached leaders, 6th of 12, 6l behind Discovery Bay (11-0) at Wetherby 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Mar.
Blue Top 15-2 (10-9) Led after first, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, plugged on, 3rd of 8, 17l behind Kashmir Peak (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Mightavago 100-1 (10-7) Towards rear, went 6th before 5 out, pushewd along and weakened before 3 out, 10th of 12, well behind Wilton Milan (11-6) at Southwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Up In Flames (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, ridden entering straight, weakened, 10th of 14, 13l behind South South West (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp 47-65 pol in Oct (flat).
Orton Express Hunting Lion mare out of Express Girl.
