Mr Mix

Mr Mix ran a cracker to finish a close second to Yala Enki in the two-and-a-half-mile novices' hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.

Keener than ideal through the early stages of the race behind habitual front-runner Yala Enki, Paul Nicholls' horse travelled well into the home straight, and looked a real threat to the favourite. However, his early exertions probably took their toll from the last flight, and that, together with Yala Enki's proven tenacity, was just enough to see Venetia Williams' horse home.

This was still a fine performance by the runner-up. Yala Enki is a tough and talented rival, the Lanzarote Hurdle winner and fully deserving of his rating of 142, and Mr Mix ran him close with the pair of them finishing ahead of Aloomomo and Premier Bond. Also, the winning time was good, over a second faster than Different Gravey clocked in winning the handicap later on the card. Different Gravey is talented, and he was being talked of as a possible World Hurdle contender.

This was just Mr Mix's fifth run over hurdles, and just his fourth in Britain. He has progressed with each run, and he should continue to progress as he learns to settle better. The handicapper raised him just 3lb to a mark of 138, and that is fair. He is a chaser in the making, but he will be of interest in a handicap off that mark, or back in another similar novices' contest.

20^th February 2016

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