pulled hard in rear, headway to lead before 4th, mistake 7th, soon headed, remained prominent in main group, hit 12th, chased clear winner after 5 out, ridden in clear 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace under pressure, no impression
raced keenly, led to before 4th, chased leaders, lost place and behind 11th, plugged on to go moderate 3rd at last, no chance with front pair
with leaders to 7th, remained prominent in main group, outpaced 5 out, no chance with leading pair from next, lost moderate 3rd at last
pulled hard in touch, headway to lead after 7th, made rest and soon clear, ridden and 9 lengths clear when blundered last, kept on
held up behind in touch on inside, struggling 11th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, chased clear winner 8th until after 5 out, soon weakened
in touch, reminders and lost place 10th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
blundered 2nd, went prominent briefly on outside 4th, jumped right and dropped to rear next, reminders 6th, struggling 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
Nonrunner
Only a neck separated What Of It and Louis Pasteur when they finished first and second respectively at Leicester in February. The latter has since gone on to win at Newton Abbot but the former found OCA DE THAIX too good at Ffos Las and that could be the case again today. Keith Goldsworthy's charge followed up that win with a comfortable victory at Chepstow and looks capable of landing a four-timer. Blackstaff has won four point-to-points and makes his debut over regulation fences after a year's absence, while Vintage Class has been in winning form between the flags but was unplaced in three previous starts in chases.
Oca De Thaix (FR) 6-4fav (11-10) Took keen hold, headway 4th, chased leader 6th, led 9th, clear 3 out, not fluent 2 out, hit last, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Chepstow 3m hts chs (6) gd in Mar beating Worship The Stars (11-8) by 14l, 9 ran.
Louis Pasteur (IRE) 4-6fav (11-7) Held up, took keen hold, went 3rd when hit 10th, went 2nd 4 out, ridden after 3 out, led last, driven out, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov hts chs (6) gs in Mar beating Walter De Wodeland (11-5) by 5l, 6 ran.
What Of It (IRE) 3-1 (11-9) Led headed 4 out, regained lead before 2 out, headed last, kept on, 2nd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Oca De Thaix (11-7) at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov hts chs (6) gs in Mar.
Blackstaff (IRE) (12-3) Ap; led 14; ro wl, won at Bishops Court 3m ptp gd in Mar beating Nycteos (12-0) by 4l, 11 ran.
Brook Castle (IRE) 10-1 (12-5) Nvr on terms, 8th of 13, 37l behind Pendoun (12-0) at Bishops Court 3m ptp gd in Mar.
King Of The Road 25-1 (12-0) Went 2nd 7; stayed on to ld last; rdn out, won at Treborough Hill 3m 4f ptp gd in Mar beating James Pine (12-0) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Thirtytwo Red (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Chased leaders on outside, lost place 11th, tailed off 4 out, 11th of 12, well behind Kornati Kid (11-13) at Exeter 3m hts chs (6) gd in Mar.
Princesse De Rome 11-4 (11-7) in a race won by Lydstep Hills (12-0) at Cilwendeg 3m ptp gs in Mar, 9 ran.
Vintage Class (IRE) 4-7 (12-0) A gng wl; led 2 out; comf, won at Buckfastleigh 3m ptp gd in Mar beating Holly Walk (11-7) by 6l, 6 ran.
