jumped slowly, niggled along in rear 2nd, behind 6th, pulled up after next
led until after 1st, with leader, not fluent 11th or 12th, shaken up 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon narrow lead, went left last, ridden out
led after 1st, ridden 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon headed carried left flat, held flat, kept on
held up in touch in rear, jumped left 9th, not fluent next, 3rd from 11th, weakened before 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden after 10th, outpaced 12th, weakened 4 out
tracked leaders, lost place after 7th, struggling in 5th when mistake and unseated rider 9th
Kris Spin is the type to do better over fences but he may need this and Nesterenko, a winner of four of his 16 hurdle starts, also returns from a break. CHARMIX had the highest rating of these over timber and has come up against decent opposition on his two starts so far over the larger obstacles. This sharp track should suit this free-going sort and he’ll take some catching. Dig Deeper is another with a lengthy absence to overcome and The Greenvet makes his debut under Rules having proved inconsistent between the flags.
Call Me Ben (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Hung left most of way, tracked leader until approaching 2nd, handy 3rd until 9th, weakening when hit 3 out, pulled up before next, at Southwell 3m (4) gs in Dec.
Charmix (FR) 7-2 (11-1) Led, headed 10th, tracked winner, ridden 3 out, every chance next, kept on one pace, 4th of 6, 9 1/2l behind Potters Legend (11-6) at Bangor 2m 4f (3) sft in Nov.
Dig Deeper 33-1 (11-1) Prominent, led 10th until 11th, ridden after 5 out, no impression on winner from 2 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Aubusson (11-1) at Uttoxeter 3m (4) hvy in Dec.
Kris Spin (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Held up, hampered and mistake 6th, closed next, went 2nd after 13th until before 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 6, dist behind Warrantor (11-0) at Lingfield 2m 7f (4) hvy in Dec.
Nesterenko (GER) 5-1 (11-11) Held up in mid-division, headway after 3 out, led last, ran on well, won at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in May beating Card Game (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
The Greenvet (IRE) 9-2 (12-1) Tr ldrs, 3rd 1/2way, 2nd app str, left in ld 2out, joined last, kow run-in, won at Glenbane 3m mdn gd in Nov beating Snugsborough Benny (12-1) by 1l, 14 ran.
In The Tub (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, behind from 4th, never on terms after, tailed off, 6th of 7, dist behind Robinsfirth (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f (3) sft in Jan.
