November's C&D winner Stow toughed it out to land a competitive handicap at Newbury eight days ago but faces an entirely different test here off an 11lb higher mark, though Harry Challoner's claim reduces his welter burden slightly. Victors Serenade also has his fair share of weight after winning at Towcester last month, while Snake Charmer is 5lb higher than when arriving late to foil the gambled-on Crazy Eyes at Warwick. Novices Stolen Thunder and Gunna Be A Devil have been done no favours by the handicapper but staying chaser Peut Etre Sivola could be interesting on his first start over timber for two years. The vote, however, goes to PAVILLON BLEU, who was runner-up over today's C&D in the autumn and looked ready for a return to this trip when a staying-on fourth over 2m6f at Wincanton last weekend.
Stow 12-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, headway 8th, led 4 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well flat, won at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft beating Go Amwell (10-5) by 2 3/4l, 12 ran.
Victors Serenade (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Held up in touch, headway 4 out, led 3 out, not fluent next, soon clear, stayed on well, won at Towcester 3m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Bounds And Leaps (10-5) by 10l, 12 ran.
Pavillon Bleu (FR) 8-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, driven and lost place after 3 out, rallied on inside next, soon ridden, kept on and disputed close up 3rd when mistake last, no extra flat, 4th of 8, 9l behind Jetnova (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs.
Stolen Thunder 16-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, jumped left 5th, headway 3 out, went 3rd after 2 out, never nearer, 3rd of 16, 15l behind Cucumber Run (11-8) at Hereford 2m 4f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) sft in Jan.
Gunna Be A Devil (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, effort 4 out, outpaced by leading pair approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Pie At Midnight (11-0) at Bangor 3m nov hcp 0-115 (4) gs.
Heraldry (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, reminders after 8th, hit 4 out, never dangerous, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Tabaran (11-0) at Stratford 2m 6f sell hdl (5) sft in Mar, 9 ran.
Snake Charmer 33-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, mistake 1st, not fluent 3rd, headway approaching 2 out, ran on well flat to lead near finish, won at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs beating Crazy Eyes (11-8) by nk, 17 ran.
Devon Native (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, lost place after 6th, not much room after 7th, soon behind, ran on flat, no impression, 6th of 14, 19l behind Daring Origyn (11-8) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft.
Peut Etre Sivola (FR) 8-1 (10-10) Held up, bumped 1st, ridden and weakened after 17th, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Cornish Sett (11-6) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Lyster (IRE) 9-2 (9-11) Held up in rear, badly hamperd 7th, headway 9th, mistake 11th, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 12, 6l behind Midas Way (11-0) at Stratford 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in May.
Overnight Fame (IRE) 7-4 (11-1) Chased leader, jumped left 3rd, led after 5th until not fluent 3 out, jumped left 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 10, 18l behind Bunglasha Lady (11-1) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) sft.
Dusky Bob (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Pushed along before 2nd, soon lost place, well behind 5th, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Firm Order (11-8) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd, 17 ran.
Monsieur Cadou (FR) 9-1 (11-9) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 6th, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 13, 24l behind Be My Light (10-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Casual Garcia 16-1 (11-9) Raced wide towards rear, ridden and struggling from 4th, tailed off, 9th of 14, 41l behind Body Gold (10-10) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
