held up in last trio, taking closer order on outside when blundered and unseated rider 9th
jumped right, led, headed after 7th, chased winner, pushed along and no impression before 5 out, lost 2nd 3 out, chased leading pair, weakened and lost poor 3rd at the last
chased leading trio, not fluent 3rd, 3rd before 8th until 4 out, rallied into poor 2nd 3 out, driven and no impression before next
held up in 5th, mistake 4th, weakened before 5 out, behind and pulled up soon after
early reminder, chased leading pair until pushed along before 8th, blundered 10th, soon behind, pulled up before 5 out
chased leader, led after 7th, clear and travelling well before 5 out, blundered badly next but remained clear, eased flat
held up in rear, headway into 4th after 11th, blundered 13th, ridden before 5 out, modest 3rd 4 out until next, {} weakened soon after
last pair, plugged on into modest 3rd at the last, went 2nd final 50 yards, flattered by proximity to heavily eased winner
BENDANT was beaten only a length in this grade when last seen at the track in May. He's preferred to Gunna Be A Devil, a well beaten runner-up on his chasing bow at Taunton in April. Cruising Bye has the more recent form with a second at Ffos Las but that was over hurdles and he remains 7lb higher than when scoring over fences last year. Tarabela reverts to chasing having ended last season with a double over timber but has not won over fences since 2011.
Bendant 7-1 (11-8) Chased leaders on outside, blundered badly 4th, pushed along 12th, went 2nd before 4 out, went right next, soon ridden, driven and stayed on flat, always held, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Dark Glacier (11-6) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in May.
Gunna Be A Devil (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, led 5th, headed 8th, rallied 4 out, weakened 2 out, 2nd of 4, 18l behind Cowards Close (10-12) at Taunton 2m 7f nov chs (4) gd in Apr.
Fourovakind 7-1 (11-9) Held up, headway after 12th, ridden and weakened before 14th, well behind next, pulled up after, in a race won by Loughalder (10-12) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar, 10 ran.
Flaming Charmer (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) In rear, headway approaching 4 out, mistake 3 out, no impression next, 7th of 12, 11l behind Gas Line Boy (11-12) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Halley (FR) 4-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, lost place and reminders after 10th, behind next, ridden and headway under pressure after 4 out, chased leading pair before next, stayed on to press for 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 3rd of 6, 21l behind Master Neo (11-5) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft.
Smiles For Miles (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Mid-division, closed 8th, hampered 12th, outpaced after 13th, not fluent 3 out, no impression, 6th of 15, 17l behind Premier Portrait (10-11) at Worcester 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Oct.
Tarabela 5-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, pushed along in 3rd before 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, strong challenge flat, led post, won at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Feb beating Sweet Boy Vic (10-4) by ns, 17 ran.
Cruising Bye 4-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway after 5th, 2nd travelling well 4 out, ridden before 2 out, switched left when mistake last, rallied well in closing stages, just held, 2nd of 7, hd behind Kapricorne (10-7) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Oct.