took keen hold, tracked leaders, hit 4th and 7th, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden before next, no chance with winner before last
not fluent, held up in 4th, mistake 2nd, weakened 4 out, hit next
jumped well, made all, in command between last 2, stayed on strongly and never really challenged
tended to jump left and not fluent, well in rear, ridden and went moderate 4th 3 out, stayed on from last, went 3rd flat
pulled hard, held up in 5th, headway to track leading pair 9th, driven before 2 out, 3rd and beaten when blundered last, lost 3rd flat
mostly chased winner, hit 5th, weakening when mistake 4 out, tailed off
Divine Gift has been running consistently well of late and Noel Chance's Fakenham winner lost no caste in defeat behind Deep Purple at Hereford recently but he faces no easy task here up against FRENCH SAULAIE, who gets the verdict ahead of Kealshore Boy. Howard Johnson's gelding was well held in the Dipper Novices' Chase behind Calgary Bay when last seen but had earlier looked a decent recruit when successful at Newcastle and he has to be respected. Henrietta Knight's Muhtenbar showed improved form when successful at Huntingdon last time and he would have every chance on that performance but he may not be suited by the drop in trip today. Colin Tizzard's Intac has run creditably in two starts over hurdles and could be of interest on his chasing debut, while Ouste ran better at Kempton last time but needs to improve on that effort to trouble an in-form French Saulaie. The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding has been given a break since failing to handle the testing ground at Cheltenham in January but earlier form under similar conditions to those he faces today was solid and, with the stable's runners in good form, he looks worth siding with.
Divine Gift 4-1 (11-4) Held up in 3rd, chased winner before 3 out, soon ridden, no impression from 2 out, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Deep Purple (11-8) at Hereford 2m nov stks (3) gd.
Kealshore Boy 16-1 (11-0) Mistake, held up in last pair, mistake and driven along 8th, went poor 4th 14th until flat, last of 5, well behind Calgary Bay (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs G2 (1) gs in Jan.
Muhtenbar 2-1fav (10-12) Tracked leader, led after 4th, clear last, ran on well, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov stks (4) gd beating Double The Trouble (10-12) by 12l, 5 ran.
Ouste (FR) 33-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway travelling well approaching 3 out, tracked leading pair 2 out, driven to chase winner before last, no impression flat and lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Green Gamble (10-7) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
French Saulaie (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Held up, some progress 12th, weakened next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Ping Pong Sivola (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) hvy in Jan, 7 ran.
Intac (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Led, narrrowly headed 3 out, soon ridden, no chance with winner before next, 2nd of 4, 15l behind El Dancer (11-1) at Plumpton 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft.
