held up, headway after 2 out, no impression approaching last
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner when jumped right last, challenging when short of room and hampered on rails flat, rallied and just failed, promoted and placed 1st
held up towards rear, driven approaching 3 out, soon beaten
always behind, tailed off from 3 out
prominent, led 5th, ridden and headed approaching last, weakened
chased leaders, losing place when hit 5th
held up in touch, pushed along approaching 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
held up in touch, weakened 3 out
in touch, ridden to chase leading pair approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
pulled hard, held up, in mid-division by 2nd, weakened approaching last
held up in touch, went 2nd after 3 out, led approaching last, soon ridden, edged right flat, just held on, demoted and placed 2nd
held up towards rear, headway on outside approaching 2 out, eased when beaten approaching last
led to 5th, lost place approaching 2 out, no danger after
chased leaders until after 2 out
always behind, tailed off 5th, pulled up before 2 out
The Mick Weston had decent form in bumpers before making a pleasing winning debut over hurdles at Uttoxeter in November for which the handicapper seems to have been lenient in allotting the Richard Phillips-trained gelding a mark of just 118 and he is taken to follow up at the main expense of Green Iceni and Dearson. The last mentioned showed improved form when opening his account at Fontwell last time and could have been let in on a fair mark of 112. Alan King's Mikado Melody has been given a nice break since making a winning return in October and is hard to evaluate, while Pirate Flagship missed a seemingly straight-forward contest at Taunton on Friday in preference to running in this race and cannot be discounted lightly under Ruby Walsh. The latter's trainer Paul Nicholls also saddles Armariver, although he probably has less solid claims and of more interest may be Spiritual Society who has joined the yard of Michael Scudamore from Willie Mullins and could have claims if he has learnt how to settle. Alan King's High Altitude and David Gandolfo's Fleurette are both open to improvement and cannot be completely ruled out although a bigger threat is likely to come from Green Iceni, who is only 6lbs higher than when scoring on admittedly softer ground at Sandown last time. The Mick Weston looks a decent recruit to the hurdling ranks though and he gets the vote.
The Mick Weston 4-11fav (10-12) Held up and keen, headway when faltered 6th, led approaching 3 out, clear 2 out, easily, won at Uttoxeter 2m nov hdl (E) gs in Nov beating Mayyas (10-12) by 10l, 11 ran.
Pirate Flagship (FR) 11-2 (11-6) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out, 6th of 18, 18l behind Wee Robbie (11-0) at Newbury 2m 3f nh nov hdl (D) gs in Dec.
Mikado Melody (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) In touch, headway to chase leader 3 out, led 2 out, pressed last, driven and stayed on well flat, won at Lingfield 2m nov hdl (E) sft in Oct beating Idris (10-12) by 2l, 16 ran.
Nice Horse (FR) 33-1 (10-4) Always behind led, not fluent 3rd, headed 7th, weakened quickly and, 11th of 18, well behind Wee Robbie (11-0) at Newbury 2m 3f nh nov hdl (D) gs in Dec.
Dearson (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, tracked leader 3 out, led between last 2, ridden clear flat, won at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (E) sft in Dec beating Arumun (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Cousin Nicky 14-1 (11-4) Chased leaders until weakened approaching 2 out, 13th of 16, well behind Screenplay (11-2) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Nov.
Good Citizen (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leader, headway 5th, driven and stayed on approaching last, kept on flat but no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Noland (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nh nov hdl (C) gs in Dec.
High Altitude (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Chased until weakened after 3 out, 5th of 8, 21l behind College Ace (10-12) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (D) gs in Oct.
Green Iceni 4-1fav (11-6) Close up, hard ridden, driven and stayed on approaching last, chased leading pair flat, ran on to lead final 75 yards, won at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) hvy in Dec beating Man Ray (11-2) by 2l, 14 ran.
Spiritual Society (IRE) 6-4fav (11-5) Pulled hard early, held up towards rear, smooth headway approaching 3 out, led next, ridden clear when jumped left last, stayed on well, won at Clonmel 2m hcp hdl 0-109 hvy in Nov beating Ard Hudie (10-3) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
Armariver (FR) 7-4jt-fav (10-5) In touch, driven to chase leading pair and mistake 2 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Cold Turkey (10-12) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (D) gs in Nov.
Theocritus (GER) 7-1 (10-8) Held up in touch, lost place 3rd, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 9, 32l behind Motorway (10-8) at Newbury 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-130 (E) gd in Nov.
Fleurette 7-2 (10-7) Held up, steady headway from 6th, challenged 2 out, led soon after last, held on gamely, all out, won at Lingfield 2m 3f nh nov hdl (D) hvy in Nov beating It's In The Stars (11-0) by a shd, 12 ran.
River Indus 100-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden and headway after 4th, one pace from 3 out, 4th of 11, 18l behind Inaro (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (E) sft.
June's River (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Held up, jumped right 2nd, mistake and weakened 9th, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Football Crazy (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov hdl (C) gd in Oct '04.
