mid-diviison, pushed along and outpaced before 4 out, plugged on again from 2 out, never any chance with leading quartett
chased leaders, ridden and stayed on to 3rd final 100 yards
mid-division, weakened 4 out
hampered 1st, towards rear, some headway into mid-division after 4th, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened, slightly hampered last
took keen hold, led until 3 out, led again between last 2, stayed on well from last
took keen hold towards rear, fell 1st
always behind, tailed off
mid-division, headway 4th, ridden and weakened before 4 out
behind, ridden in mid-division 3 out, plugged on from last
in touch, weakened 4 out, no chance when mistake and unseated rider last
in touch, not fluent 3rd, headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, went 2 lengths 2nd approaching last, stayed on same pace flat
mid-division, lost place after 4th, behind when badly hampered last
tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden and headed between last 2, chased winne runtil approaching last, weakened into 4th final 100 yards
held up in rear, headway on outside after 4th, ridden in 6th before 3 out, weakened next, mistake 2 out, mistake and unseated rider last
It's difficult to form a strong opinion in such a wide-open contest but DREAM DEAL will have come on for a pipe-opener at Exeter, his first start over hurdles. He's gets the speculative vote ahead of Powderonthebonnet. The latter has gone close in a couple of bumpers while Reverb and Vujiyama are also expected to finish closer with recent hurdling debuts under their belt. There was little separating Midnight Request and Bajan Blu when they both finished down the field over track and trip earlier this month and Peak Storm landed a double on the Flat here in September.
Bajan Blu 50-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, led 3 out, ridden and headed before last, soon weakened, 7th of 14, 16l behind Vice Et Vertu (11-0) at Chepstow 2m NH mdn hdl (5) hvy.
Buywise (IRE) 4-1fav (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, going well when fell 3 out, in a race won by Moscow Menace (11-9) at Kelso 3m 2f hts chs (5) gs in Apr, 12 ran.
Dream Deal 16-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, plugged on from after 3 out, never near leaders, 6th of 15, 15l behind Horizontal Speed (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Duke's Affair 100-1 (10-9) Raced keenly, mid-division, driven and outpaced before 3 out, never near leaders, 8th of 18, 40l behind Doctor Harper (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gs.
Elysian Heights (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, mistake 5th, never dangerous, 10th of 11, well behind Jean De Florette (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) hvy.
Forrardon Xmoor 16-1 (10-10) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened quickly, 7th of 8, 26l behind Orchard Road (11-2) at Wincanton 2m NH flat (6) sft in Apr.
Going Concern (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Held up in last pair, took keen hold, hampered 5th, headway soon after, shaken up after 3 out, soon beaten, weakened next, tailed off, 6th of 8, 46l behind Batu Ferringhi (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
Hendry Trigger 10-1 (9-0) Chased leaders until pushed along and lost place 7f out, reminder 6f out, rallied over 3f out, chased winner and every chance over 1f out, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind McConnell (9-0) at Brighton 1m 2f (6) gs in Sep (flat).
Lucas Pitt 100-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, well behind Jean De Florette (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) hvy.
Midnight Request 100-1 (10-9) Held up mid-division, weakened 4 out, 6th of 14, 16l behind Vice Et Vertu (11-0) at Chepstow 2m NH mdn hdl (5) hvy.
Peak Storm 66-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, hampered 4th, headway approaching 3 out, never on terms, 8th of 15, 23l behind Free Thinking (10-2) at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd.
Powderonthebonnet (IRE) 13-8fav (11-2) Tracked leaders and keen chased winner over 2f out, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Mr Satco (11-2) at Kelso 2m NH flat (5) gf in May.
Reverb 9-2 (10-12) Towards rear, mistake 6th, soon lost place, stayed on well from last, just held for 3rd close home, 4th of 9, 23l behind Captain Cutter (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs.
Veratan (FR) 33-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, well behind 5th, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind Oscars Den (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Vujiyama (FR) 14-1 (10-12) Took keen hold early, held up towards rear, headway to track leaders 5th, weakening when mistake and stumbled 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Carraig Mor (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Camptown Lady 100-1 (10-9) Raced keenly, held up towards rear until headway and in touch after 4f, led halfway, headed over 3f out, weakened inside final 2f, 7th of 12, 25l behind No No Romeo (11-2) at Southwell 2m NH flat (6) sft.