chased leaders, slow 8th, soon lost place, mistake 3 out, weakened before next
led, headed 2 out, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, slow 2nd, pushed along 8th, detatched 4 out, tailed off
tracked leader, ridden to challenge after 3 out, every chance next, weakened before last
mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, never on terms
mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden to challenge approaching last, kept on well
mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, every chance 2 out, weakened last
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, led next, ridden clear last, ran on well
Duaiseoir and SPANISH ARCH both carry penalties for recent victories at Taunton and Warwick respectively. The latter was probably the more impressive and gets the vote here as blinkers would have to work for a second time on the former, who is the more exposed. Grey Soldier looks to be on the way back but is still high enough in the weights while Pause And Clause is on a long losing run and, though well treated, hasn't raced since June. Sunny Ledgend and Rollwiththepunches have also been absent for a while but Farmer Matt won over 3m at Exeter last month, though is 12lb higher now.
Sunny Ledgend 8-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out until mistake and weakened next,, 9th of 13, 25l behind Enfant De Lune (10-11) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Pause And Clause (IRE) 15-8 (11-0) Led until 1st, tracked winner until not fluent 9th, soon pushed along and getting outpaced, no impression from next, blundered 2 out, 3rd of 5, 14l behind Saved By John (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f beg chase (4) gd in Jun.
Grey Soldier (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders before last, ran on flat, never reached winner, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Pas Trop Tard (11-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Rollwiththepunches 11-1 (10-12) Held up 4th and last, mistake 2nd, lost touch 7th, mistake 9th, soon tailed off, left remote 3rd before last, 3rd of 4, well behind Edge Of Town (10-11) at Hexham 2m 7f Novice Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) hvy in Dec '11.
Moorland Sunset 8-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, went 2nd from 8th, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 9, well behind Arkose (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Nov.
Duaiseoir (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 7th, led before 2 out, clear before last, easily, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft beating Johnny Red (11-9) by 7l, 16 ran.
Spanish Arch (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden clear before next, not fluent last, stayed on well, won at Warwick 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft beating Life Long (10-12) by 10l, 13 ran.
Farmer Matt (IRE) 11-4fav (10-2) Held up on outside, headway after 5th, led before 3 out, mistake 2 out, ran on well, won at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov beating Pyleigh Lass (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.