held up, went 3rd from 3rd, went 2nd before 4 out, shaken up and struggling to close 5 length gap when fell 3 out
tracked leader, led in back straight, clear 3 out, went left 2 out, hung right before jumping left last, hung left flat, driven out
last from 3rd, behind 5th, tailed off in back straight, left 3rd 3 out
led, mistake 2nd, not fluent 3rd, headed in back straight, 3rd and ridden 4 out, pressing for 5 length 2nd when left 2nd 3 out, closed last, held flat
MODUS has taken well to chasing and won both starts over fences so far. An impressive winner of a Grade 2 novice chase at Wincanton last time, the Nicholls’ charge is fancied to get the better of West Approach. The latter made a winning start over fences at Ffos Las but never figured when last of three at Cheltenham recently while both Report To Base and Le Boizelo have plenty to find with the main protagonists on these terms.
Modus 4-6fav (11-2) Tracked leader, every chance 2 out, led approaching last, quickened clear, impressive, won at Wincanton 2m 4f (1) sft in Nov beating Kalondra (11-2) by 9l, 3 ran.
West Approach 7-4 (11-5) Not fluent 1st, tracked rival pair, jumped slowly on occasions, driven and outpaced after 3 out, no chance with clear pair from next, tailed off, last of 3, 33l behind Black Corton (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m (2) sft in Nov.
Le Boizelo (FR) 17-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd 7th until ridden before 2 out, weakened quickly, behind and no chance when blundered badly and unseated rider last, at Sandown 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Mar.
Report To Base (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Held up mid-division, weakened from 5 out, 8th of 10, 21 1/4l behind Derintoher Yank (10-11) at Carlisle 2m hcp (3) sft in Oct.
