in rear and in touch, chased winner before 5 out, every chance last, kept on and held run-in
tracked leaders, reminders before 5 out, soon outpaced, weakened from 2 out
held up in touch, chased winner after 3rd until before 5 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on
led, clear from 3rd, pressed from 2 out, mistake last, kept on well run-in
tracked winner until after 3rd, pushed along 4 out, weakened before 2 out
Jockey bookings and form would suggest Ask The Tycoon is a better bet than stable companion Hey Listen but Derek Fox’ mount is likely to find at least a couple of these too good. Anything that Kevin Ryan runs here over hurdles deserves the utmost respect and Canny Style, a course and distance winner in November, will be aiming to bounce back from an unexpected defeat at Sedgefield. Nendrum was only beaten half-a-length at Catterick having bolted up here eight days earlier but CHARMANT wasn’t disgraced against stronger opposition at Kelso when chasing a hat-trick and a similar effort here may suffice.
Charmant (FR) 9-2 (10-2) Took keen hold in mid-division, towards rear when mistake 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, went 4th post, 4th of 10, 5 1/4l behind Mirsaale (11-5) at Kelso 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Ask The Tycoon (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Led, headed before 3 out, weakening when mistake last, 4th of 6, 13 3/4l behind Uncle Alastair (11-6) at Ayr 2m 4f (4) hvy in Dec.
Canny Style 15-8fav (11-3) Held up in rear, went 3rd before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Black Art (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Nendrum (IRE) 11-10fav (11-6) Led to 5 out, challenged and every chance before last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Steel City (11-3) at Catterick 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Hey Listen (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, lost place 1st, ridden and struggling after 5th, 10th of 14, 32 1/4l behind Wot A Shot (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gd in Dec.
