raced wide, mistake stumbled badly and lost place 1st, rallied on outside, chasing leaders after 4th, went 2nd 6th until went left 8th, lost place quickly and pulled up before next
held up and behind, not fluent 6th, closer on outside before 2 out, plugged on, never on terms
mistakes and always towards rear, no chance when blundered 11th, tailed off
led, headed before 2 out, no chance with winner, weakened into 3rd at the last
chased leader until 6th, chased leaders, went 2nd again 8th until pushed along before 3 out, chased leaders, mistake and weakened 2 out
never nearer than mid-division, losing place when reached for 10th, weakened next, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out
towards rear, steady headway 9th, outpaced 3 out, plugged on again run-in, almost snatched 4th
chased leaders on inside, weakened 11th, tailed off
chased leaders went 2nd before 3 out, led going well before next, soon clear and stayed on strongly
mid-division, behind and struggling after 8th, jumped slowly next, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, steady headway 9th, 3rd 2 out, went 2nd at the last, no chance with winner
mid-division, headway on outside chasing leaders 9th, plugged on in 4th before 2 out
NonRunner
A competitive affair which sees some promising novices taking on more experienced chasers. ESPOIR DE GUYE (NAP) is only five but followed up a very good second to Simply The Betts at Chepstow, when subsequent Ffos Las winner Golden Whisky was third, with a smooth success at Exeter and he looks one to follow. First Flow should also have more to come after comfortably landing the odds at Hereford last week while Delire D'Estruval goes well fresh and will act on the ground so an absence since March is not a concern. Kobrouk won three times in France and will have benefited from a run over hurdles while Mr Medic won this two years ago and wasn’t disgraced on his reappearance here. Garde La Victoire has tumbled down the weights but will likely need this.
Kobrouk (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, chased winner 3 out until next, kept on one pace, 3rd of 13, 13l behind Highly Prized (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Garde La Victoire (FR) 4-1jfav (11-7) Tracked leader, led and hit 3rd, hit next, headed 4 out, chased leader until next, kept on same pace in 3rd, pecked last, weakened into 4th final 100 yards, 4th of 9, 9 1/4l behind Charbel (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Militarian 50-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, led 13th, ridden 4 lengths clear 2 out, edged left approaching last, driven out, won at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Top Wood (11-11) by 4l, 13 ran.
First Flow (IRE) 1-9fav (11-0) Made all, soon clear, unchallenged, won at Hereford 2m (3) sft in Dec beating Haldon Hill (11-0) by 20l, 3 ran.
Delire D'Estruval (FR) 6-1 (11-8) Led until after 6th, pressed leader, led again 8th until after 4 out, chased leader, led again 2 out, stayed on gamely from last, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Volt Face (10-3) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Mr Medic 13-2 (11-9) Close up, ridden to chase winner 4 out, outpaced approaching 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 7, dist behind Flying Angel (11-10) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
War Sound 17-2 (11-3) Held up in rear, blundered 10th, some headway 3 out, no impression, 7th of 10, 25 3/4l behind Riders Onthe Storm (11-5) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Got Away (FR) 20-1 (12-0) Last pair, went right and bumped 3rd, behind and struggling 10th, tailed off, 8th of 11, 16 3/4l behind Azzerti (11-12) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Espoir De Guye (FR) Evensfav (10-12) Pressed leader, led narrowly before 4 out, driven clear before last, kept on well, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Deauville Dancer (11-12) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.
Golden Whisky (IRE) 4-6fav (11-6) Made all, jumped right, challenged 2 out, stayed on well (2 fences omitted), won at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Nov beating Some Can Dance (11-4) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
My Way (FR) 9-2 (11-2) In touch, headway 5 out, tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 10, 5 1/4l behind Dashing Perk (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Cap Du Nord (FR) 50-1 (10-5) Well in touch, plugged on from 4 out, stayed on run-in, never going pace to reach leaders, 5th of 16, 11l behind Bennys King (11-1) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
On The Slopes 5-1 (11-8) Raced keenly, chased leaders, blundered 4 out, pushed along when mistake 3 out, soon ridden and kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 10, 17l behind Generous Day (11-3) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
