Tended to jump right, led, hit and headed 7th, regained narrow lead after next, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner between last 2 op 9/1 tchd 11/1
In touch, tracked leader 4th, led 7th to after next, outpaced by front pair before 2 out, soon ridden, well held between last 2, weakened and lost 3rd flat op 11/2
Charmant looked an absolute natural over fences when winning at Sedgefield in November but races off an 8lb higher mark in a much stronger race, so this potentially lies between last Saturday's Newcastle scorer Treshnish and the October C&D winner TAYZAR. A narrow preference is for the Ruth Jefferson-trained runner who subsequently finished a rock-solid second off this revised mark (120) at Sedgefield.