tracked leaders, led 4th, headed next, led after 8th, headed 11th, lost 2nd and weakened before 4 out, blundered and unseated rider 3 out
led until 2nd, left in lead 3rd, headed next, lost place after 8th, not fluent next, behind 12th, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, headway from 9th, went 3rd well behind front pair 10th, went 2nd before 4 out, no chance with winner, mistake 3 out, lost 2nd 2 out, weakened last
mid-division, badly hampered and lost place 3rd, last 5th, pulled up before next
mid-division, closed 4th, led next, headed after 8th, led 11th, clear before 4 out, not fluent last, easily
with leader, led 2nd, fell next
chased leaders, not fluent and lost place 4th, behind 9th
held up in rear, headway from 10th, 3rd before 4 out, no chance with winner, went 2nd 2 out until towards finish
chased leaders on outside, well behind front pair 9th, no chance after
chased leaders, hampered 3rd, getting behind from 9th, tailed off
behind, tailed off after 4th, pulled up before next
NonRunner
This looks very competitive with any number boasting solid credentials. Schiehallion Munro was back to his best when second at Wetherby in November in a race in which Fanzio was pulled up. He’ll be in the van again but does have a bit to find with COOL MIX on earlier running at the West Yorkshire track. Iain Jardine’s grey went on to run well at Aintree and didn’t quite get home over 3m in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle last time so will be suited by the return to a shorter trip. It’s a while since Garde La Victoire got his head in front but he’s placed in both starts this season and can make the frame again. Romain De Senam is well treated at present but Red Risk probably needs to drop a few pounds. Return Ticket, Get Out The Gate and Mint Gold all arrive in good form but don’t often face opposition of this quality on the northern circuit.
Red Risk (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Prominent, mistake 10th, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 9, dist behind Espoir De Guye (11-12) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Schiehallion Munro 10-3fav (11-12) Led until 3rd, chased leader until before 8th, close 3rd, 2nd again before 4 out, led again 4 out, headed last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 9, 4 1/4l behind Johnbb (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Return Ticket (IRE) 7-4fav (11-8) Chased leader, close up 7th, led narrowly 4 out, drew clear 2 out, pushed out, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Gaelik Coast (11-11) by 6 1/2l, 4 ran.
Garde La Victoire (FR) 2-1fav (11-8) Prominent, jumped well 4th, disputing lead after 5th, led 6th, still every chance 4 out, headed 3 out, stayed on, 3rd of 7, 2l behind Theo (11-6) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Romain De Senam (FR) 33-1 (10-7) Held up rear of mid-division, brought down 5th, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Fanzio (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Contested lead, led 2nd, joined 7th, led again before 8th, ridden after 3 out, headed close home, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Master Work (11-0) at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Bigmartre (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leader until 11th, chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, weakened next, 9th of 13, 32 1/4l behind Clan Legend (11-2) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Cool Mix 7-1 (10-0) Well towards rear, hampered and rider nearly unseated when lost iron 11th, regained iron at 13th, headway next, ridden 3 out, kept on flat, 3rd of 10, 4 3/4l behind Yorkhill (10-10) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Get Out The Gate (IRE) 15-2 (11-6) Made all, 2 lengths up 3 out, shaken up before 2 out, pressed before last, kept on gamely run-in, won at Musselburgh 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec beating No Regrets (11-4) by nk, 10 ran.
Mint Gold (IRE) 7-4fav (12-0) Tracked leader, led narrowly 4 out where awkward, drew clear under pressure 3 out, in command last, comfortably, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Pull Green (12-0) by 9l, 6 ran.
Voix D'Eau (FR) 40-1 (11-4) Towards rear, ridden 4 out, lost touch 2 out, one pace after, 8th of 11, 17 1/2l behind Almazhar Garde (11-12) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Mount Mews (IRE) 11-5fav (11-9) Restrained in rear, not fluent 4th, headway travelling strongly before 2 out, ridden approaching last, ran on strongly to lead inside final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 6, nk behind No Hiding Place (11-3) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
