held up in touch, took keen hold, every chance approaching 3 out, stayed on same pace before last
tracked leader, reminder after 7th, led after 4 out, driven out
led, not fluent 5th, hit 4 out, soon headed and ridden, stayed on same pace flat
TONIC MELLYSSE is a cut above today's opposition and will probably start odds-on to register his first win over fences. He raced a bit free when falling on his chasing bow at Warwick and will most likely have a bit more respect for the fences now. Noble Legend also came a cropper on his first start over the larger obstacles, though he makes more appeal than Autumn Haze, who was pulled-up at Chepstow on his chasing debut. Sonic Anthem has been kept to hurdles without success since being pulled-up on his only attempt at fencing back in 2008 and is hard to fancy.
Autumn Haze 50-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, struggling after 11th, weakened before 5 out, pulled up approaching 2 out, in a race won by Cristal Bonus (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f beg chase (4) hvy in Jan, 6 ran.
Noble Legend 7-1 (10-13) Held up, headway 7th, close up when fell 8th, in a race won by Relax (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f mdn chs (5) gs, 7 ran.
Sonic Anthem (USA) 25-1 (10-5) Raced freely, led, headed 4th, chased leader until approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out, 7th of 9, 15l behind Endeavor (10-8) at Huntingdon 2m ldys hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd.
Tonic Mellysse (FR) 33-1 (9-12) Chased leaders, lost place after 3 out, 15th of 16, 20l behind Raya Star (10-1) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Dec.
