tracked leader, headway 3 out, led next, ridden, kept on well flat
led, quickened 8th, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace flat
chased leaders, lost place 8th, soon behind
held up in rear, hit 5th, headway 9th, blundered next, went 3rd, jumped left from 3 out, soon ridden, no impression
held up, outpaced 4 out, never dangerous
held up in touch, headway 8th, outpaced 4 out, 4th and no impression when blundered 2 out
Ice Melted looks one of the best bets on the card and is nominated ahead of Character Building and Pasagai. The selection hails from a stable in fine form and he chased home Flintoff at Newbury last time, He meets nothing of that calibre here today and with AP McCoy doing the steering he is a confident selection. Character Building has been running well of late but he is better over a longer trip and for that reason we are happy to take him on today. Pasagai has won over hurdles in France and he shaped with some promise on his British debut when finishing third behind Dictum at Uttoxeter. He will need to improve again to get competitive but he is not without hope. Major Catch is more exposed than most of these and ultimately Ice Melted should prove tough to beat.
Character Building (IRE) 4-1 (10-0) Bumped 1st, chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, ridden to challenge when hit 2 out, weakened soon after, 4th of 10, 12l behind Flying Enterprise (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (2) hvy in Jan.
Ice Melted (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) Held up in touch, went 3rd after 10th, ridden into 2nd approaching 2 out, kept on but always held from next, 2nd of 8, 14l behind Flintoff (11-6) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Major Catch (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, mistake 1st, lost place after 7th, behind 9th, stayed from 2 out, no impression, 5th of 8, 12l behind Nonantais (11-2) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (4) sft.
Pasagai (FR) 20-1 (10-7) Held up in touch, headway 5 out, ridden next, soon weakened, 3rd of 9, 22l behind Dictum (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m beg chs (4) hvy in Dec.
Flinders Bay (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up, never dangerous, 8th of 13, 40l behind Tidal Bay (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nh nov hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Birdwatch 14-1 (11-12) With leaders, effort 4 out, ridden and kept on same pace from next, 4th of 11, 14l behind Barton Sun (10-5) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
