tracked leaders on inner, ridden and weakened before last
tracked leader, weakened after 5th, tailed off
tracked leaders, pushed along after 4th, soon lost place
held up in rear, pushed along after 3rd, reminders before 5th, never dangerous
held up behind, went 2nd after 3rd, led before 2 out, headed before last, rallied run-in, kept on gamely run-in, held towards finish
led and raced wide, reminders after 3 out, headed before 2 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, headway 5th, went 2nd after 2 out, led before last, kept on under pressure run-in, driven out
Markem is upped in class having won over track and trip last time and will find life much tougher in this. Sam Lord was placed here in November and got his head in front over 2m at Newcastle on his latest start. He should figure again but MIXOLOGIST is dropping down a grade having found only Citizenship too good in testing ground at Exeter and Warren Greatrex' charge can take advantage and go one better. Welsh Bard won a maiden hurdle on fast ground here last year but the less-exposed Comeback Colin makes more appeal on his recent third at Market Rasen.
Mixologist 6-4fav (10-0) Chased leader, led 2nd, headed and went left 2 out, no chance with winner, mistake last, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Citizenship (11-6) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Sam Lord 11-2 (11-2) Chased leader, went 2nd 4 out, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy beating Circus Star (11-5) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Forty Crown (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up behind, headway after 5 out, weakening in 4th when fell 4 out, in a race won by Basford Ben (10-7) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Welsh Bard (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 6th of 8, 20l behind Hit The Top (11-12) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy.
Comeback Colin 9-1 (10-12) In touch, headway when hit 4th and 5th, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 19l behind Shantou Magic (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Pierrers Bounty (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Led to 3 out, soon weakened, last of 8, 31l behind Hit The Top (11-12) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy.
Markem (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) In touch, headway after 4 out, led 2 out, ran on strongly, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy beating Caught By Witness (10-0) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
