held up in touch, blundered badly and unseated rider 9th
held up towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, never dangerous
tracked winner, ridden before 2 out, kept on towards finish
made all, ridden after last, kept on well towards finish
held up towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, blundered 3 out, no impression
held up in rear, headway 3 out, mistake 2 out, switched left and every chance run-in, held towards finish
tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened after 3 out
tracked leaders, pushed along 10th, weakened before 3 out
held up mid-division, took keen hold, headway befre 3 out, kept on towards finish
There are question marks hanging over many of these with Via Archimede proving hard to win with and Auberge being pulled up on her latest start at Uttoxeter. The latter has managed just one victory from 29 starts over hurdles while Melange's only previous win came in a seller and he's been tackling fences recently. Forcefield does at least have a recent success to his name, scoring at Newcastle in November when WATERCOLOURS was behind, but he's been well beaten in both starts since so we'll take a chance that the latter will turn the tables here on much better terms. Now visored, Jim Goldie's charge usually takes on stronger opposition than this and isn't badly treated on his best form.
Forcefield 3-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 7, 32l behind Knockando (11-12) at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
Watercolours (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Led narrowly, hung left and headed on bend after 2nd, tracked leader, lost place 10th, ridden 4 out, soon behind, 6th of 8, 37l behind Everaard (10-5) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd.
Auberge (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Prominent, lost place 4th, hit 6th, no chance approaching 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Black Mac (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Via Archimede (USA) 11-2 (10-2) Led to 3 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 9, 29l behind Dizzy River (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Dec.
Melange (USA) 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, lost place when mistake 8th, not fluent 12th, no impression 4 out, 5th of 13, 20l behind Sycho Fred (10-3) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Dec.
Hotgrove Boy 40-1 (10-10) With leader, pushed along after 4 out, soon lost place, 6th of 9, well behind Dizzy River (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Dec.
Raining Horse (FR) 7-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place when mistake 11th, blundered next, behind from 5 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Definite Appeal (10-10) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd, 6 ran.
Isla Patriot 20-1 (9-7) Prominent when pecked and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Dizzy River (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Dec, 9 ran.
Velvet Vic (IRE) 9-1 (9-11) Towards rear and keen, weakened before 9th, 5th of 13, 43l behind Spot The Ball (10-13) at Southwell 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs.
