held up in rear, mistake 3rd, outpaced 3 out, never on terms
held up behind, left 3rd 13th, went 2nd 3 out, upsides next, led narrowly when hit last, ridden and headed flat, no extra towards finish
tracked leader until blundered and unseated rider 2nd
left disputing 2nd behind clear leader from 2nd, mistake and dropped to 3rd 10th, jumped slowly and lost place next, soon outpaced, behind when mistake last
raced keenly, held up in 4th, went 3rd 11th, left 2nd 13th until 3 out, soon outpaced, no impression with leading pair from next
left disputing 2nd behind clear leader from 2nd, went clear 2nd 10th, soon close up, 2 lengths down when fell 13th
not fluent 1st, led and left clear from next until after 10th, left clear again 13th, hung right and joined 2 out, headed narrowly last, ridden and stayed on to regain lead flat, stayed on towards finish
It's interesting that AP McCoy has apparently chosen Great Reason, who hasn't raced since finishing third at Leicester almost a year ago, ahead of the four-year-old Mush Mir. The latter has won three times over hurdles since the summer and gets 6lb from his elders. But we still prefer JETNOVA, who is improving with experience over the larger obstacles and may have a little more scope than stablemate Flaming Charlie. The others have a fair bit to find if they are to get involved at the business end.
Elite Beneficial (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) 6th of 12, 20l behind My Go Now (12-0) at Whitwick Manor 3m ptp gs in Feb.
Flaming Charlie (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Chased leadrs, mistake 9th, blundered and almost unseated rider 12th, behind and mistake 14th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Old Wigmore (11-0) at Exeter 3m Novice Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
Great Reason 9-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 5 out, 4 lengths down when blundered 3 out, no chance with winner from next, lost 2nd flat, burst blood vessel, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Hidden Keel (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Jan.
Jetnova (IRE) 5-2 (11-2) With leader, led 8th to next, tracked leader, not fluent 11th, challenged approaching 4 out, outpaced when hit next and 2 out, no chance with winner before last, held on for 2nd flat, 2nd of 4, 15l behind Golden Chieftain (11-2) at Uttoxeter 3m beg chs (5) gs in Nov.
Kauto Relko (FR) 20-1 (10-9) Mid-division, stumbled after 1st, mistakes 4th and 6th, hit 9th, 12 lengths 7th when brough down 11th, in a race won by Mister Hyde (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov chs (4) sft, 11 ran.
Tobeluckyenough 18-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, some headway approaching 11th, hampered when behind 11th, pulled up before last, in a race won by Mister Hyde (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov chs (4) sft, 11 ran.
Mush Mir (IRE) 2-1fav (11-6) Led, mistake and headed 5th, chased winner until ridden before 2 out, mistake 2 out and weakened, 3rd of 6, 26l behind Valid Reason (10-12) at Ascot 2m 6f nh nov hdl (2) gd in Nov.
