held up in touch, ridden 2 out, one pace
led to 3rd, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
held up in mid-division, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, headway and chased leaders 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace
prominent, mistake 3 out, led approaching 2 out, soon headed, not quicken from approaching last
held up last, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
prominent, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up in mid-division, headway 3 out, led on bit 2 out, ridden approaching last, drifted left after last, headed close home
pulled early and chased leaders, led after 3rd to approaching 2 out, rallied last, short of room and switched right soon after, led close home
chased leader, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
Not for the first time, Martin Pipe might hold the key here, with Mark Equal given the vote ahead of Fast Mix, Back To Ben Alder, Mind How You Go and Noble Pasao. Fast Mix fooled the market at Taunton last time when beating a better fancied stablemate, although an eight-pound rise in the weights will make things a little trickier today. Once again, his handler saddles a second - and indeed a third - runner in Mark Equal, who has been doing ok over fences but, with a hurdling rating that is 17 pounds below his chasing mark, his chance is an obvious one and, if the market backs this up, he could well prove the one to beat. Martin Pipe also runs Fontanesi, whose mark is at least beginning to drop now, while Back To Ben Alder has always been highly regarded and, with his stable coming out of a lean spell now and the fact the he is lightly raced being in his favour, could go well. Emanic has chances from his current mark if at his hurdling best, while it would be no surprise to see Mind How You Go improve on his seasonal pipe-opener this time around. Imtihan is now back to a winning mark, although more recent efforts have been tame, and Noble Pasao would have a chance based on his Haydock win four runs ago. Finally, Epitre probably is better than he has so far shown but, for the winner in this interesting handicap, we return to Mark Equal.
Fast Mix (FR) 8-1 In touch, ridden 6th, outpaced approaching 3 out, challenged and led on bit approaching 2 out, driven clear flat, won at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Jan beating Wun Chai by 5l, 9 ran.
Fontanesi (IRE) 16-1 Held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, never near leaders, 4th of 13, 25l behind Kasthari at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gd in Jan.
Back To Ben Alder (IRE) 5-2 Tracked leaders on outer, 7th halfway, progress into 4th 3 out, slight mistake next, soon no extra, 9th of 19, 18l behind Arch Stanton at Punchestown 2m nov hdl gd in Apr.
Emanic (FR) 8-1 In touch when fell at the 2nd in race won by Island Sound at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Mind How You Go (FR) 6-1 Held up, headway 3rd, weakened 2 out, 5th of 9, 20l behind Saint Par at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (C) sft in Dec.
Border Tale 16-1 Always behind, 17th of 21, well behind Calatagan at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (E) gd in Oct.
Imtihan (IRE) 25-1 Prominent, ridden 8th, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 15, well behind Christopher at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) sft in Jan.
Noble Pasao (IRE) 22-1 Towards rear, never troubled leaders, 9th of 18, 11l behind Junkanoo at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Jan.
Epitre (FR) 9-4fav In touch, ridden to lead 2 out, hit last, headed flat, not quicken, 2nd of 18, 1l behind Tighe Caster at Huntingdon 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gd in Jan.
Mark Equal 13-2 Held up, took closer order approaching 9th, tracked winner approaching 3 out, every chance next, soon ridden, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Duchamp at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd.
Broke Road (IRE) 20-1 Mid-division, blundered when moderate 5th 2 out, never dangerous, 5th of 13, 5l behind Dark Society at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gf in Jan.
Inducement 25-1 Made most to 4 out, weakened after next, last of 7, 39l behind Misbehaviour at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) sft in Jan.
Redi (ITY) 7-2 In touch, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden, edged left flat, driven out, won at Southwell 2m mdn hdl (F) gd in Jan beating Absolut Power by 1l, 14 ran.
