led, shaken up before 3 out to extend lead, not fluent last and almost headed, ran on under pressure final 110 yards, just held on
tracked leader, jumped well throughout, ridden and headway before 2 out, briefly challenged leader after last, just outpaced final 110 yards
just better than mid-division, niggled along and headway before 3 out, soon ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, brought down by faller 4th
midfield, smooth progress out wide before 3 out, soon ridden after 2 out, headed and kept on at one pace before last
held up in midfield, switched towards near side rail before 2 out and made brief progress, kept on at one pace after last
held up, niggled along before 3 out, headway before 2 out, kept on before last and challenged leader, just lacked pace of winner final 110 yards
towards rear, smooth progress before 3 out, soon pushed along, outpaced and weakened before 2 out
just better than midfield, tracked leader and travelled well before 3 out, soon ridden and outpaced before 2 out, weakened approaching last
BOBHOPEORNOHOPE (NAP) is well regarded and didn’t disappoint on his first run over hurdles at Exeter when beating a previous winner with a good yardstick in third. He may have too much for Flash Collonges, even though Paul Nicholls’ runner made a winning racecourse debut at Exeter despite running green and he appears to hold Santon on that run. The Philip Hobbs’ pair Gosheven and One For You have some improving to do and that is also the case with Kelso scorer Nikgarde and last season’s Southwell runner-up Willie Butler.
Bobhopeornohope (IRE) 17-2 (10-12) Prominent, led 2nd, not fluent 3rd, headed 3 out, edged left after 2 out, led again last, stayed on, won at Exeter 2m 6f (3) gd in Nov beating Ask A Honey Bee (11-4) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Flash Collonges (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, closed 2 out, led, jumped left and not fluent last, hung left and green flat, stayed on, won at Exeter 2m 6f (3) gd in Nov beating Inca Rose (10-12) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Nikgarde (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Prominent early, chased leaders, mistake 7th, led before 2 out, stayed on, ridden out, won at Kelso 2m 5f (4) gd in Sep beating Rubytwo (10-5) by 3l, 9 ran.
French Paradoxe (FR) 66-1 (10-12) Slightly worse than midfield, awkward 4 out, chased leaders 3 out where slow, awkward last, stayed on well, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Valleres (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) gs in Oct.
Gosheven (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) Mid-division on outside, headway 4th, went 2nd from 6th, mistake and lost 2nd 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 10, 14 1/4l behind Oscar Asche (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Grandads Cottage (IRE) Evensfav (10-12) Prominent on the inside throughout, ridden before 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 12, 29 3/4l behind Gaston Phebus (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f (4) gs in Oct.
One For You (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Keen close up, pushed along and weakened 6th, 4th of 5, 26 3/4l behind Switch Hitter (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f (4) gd in Nov.
Pennine Cross 7-2 (10-12) Mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, soon outpaced, rallied before the last, stayed on run-in, went modest 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 11, 18l behind Heartbreak Kid (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Santon (IRE) 15-2 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, closed 6th, edged left after 3 out, no impression, well held when mistake last, 7th of 9, 10 1/2l behind Flash Collonges (10-12) at Exeter 2m 6f (3) gd in Nov.
Thundersockssundae (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, steady headway tracking leaders over 3f out, went 2nd over 2f out, driven and stayed on same pace over 1f out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 3 1/4l behind Rabski (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m (4) gs in Oct.
Willie Butler (IRE) 9-4jfav (11-2) Tracked leader, left in lead soon after 3rd, not fluent 5th, headed next, tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd at last, 2nd of 7, 15l behind Dublin Four (11-2) at Southwell 2m 4f mdn (5) sft in Mar.
