behind, hit 9th, ridden after 13th, hit 16th, soon lost touch, pulled up after next
jumped well, made all, drew clear after 17th, unchallenged
in touch, took closer order 14th, ridden to chase winner approaching 4 out, kept on but always held from next
towards rear, headway to chase leaders 5th, ridden after 17th, kept on same pace
in touch, dropped rear 13th, soon urged along, kept on same pace from 4 out
fell 1st
held up, headway approaching 14th, ridden after 17th, stayed on
chased leaders until weakened after 17th, jumped right from next
chased leaders until outpaced after 14th, never a danger after
Tom Sayers can defy a penalty to beat the likes of Mrs Be, Bak To Bill, Even More and Le Jaguar in the day's longest race. Agatha Christie would have trouble solving this puzzle, but Tom Sayers is put up as the answer in the race named after the sleuth. The Philip Hobbs-trained eight-year-old made the most of a lenient handicap mark to score at Wincanton just five days ago, and although that slowly-run affair did not play to his strengths, he still won by a comfortable five lengths. Both Bak To Bill and Kittenkat are course specialists but would prefer softer ground, while Even More has a big weight pull with the selection after finishing nearly 20 lengths adrift at Wincanton, but still looks to have it to do. Le Jaguar seems to have had his problems since the start of the year but at the age of six is still young enough to make his mark and should not be written off just yet. Mrs Be will probably find this easier than when ninth in the Sporting Index Chase at Cheltenham, and this out-and-out stayer will be a live danger with underfoot conditions not a problem, and she can give Tom Sayers most to do.
Le Jaguar (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway when blundered 10th, struggling after, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Presenting Express (10-7) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Mar, 11 ran.
The Bandit (IRE) 25-1 (10-1) In rear, jumped slowly 5th, well behind from 10th (Becher's), 15th of 29, well behind Liberthine (10-4) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd.
Tom Sayers (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Chased leader, led on bit 16th, shaken up 2 out, clear last, comfortably, won at Wincanton 3m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd beating Elenas River (11-8) by 5l, 13 ran.
Mrs Be (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) Chased leaders until steadily lost place from 18th, 9th of 16, 25l behind Native Jack (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty hcp chs (2) gs in Mar.
Even More (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Held up in touch, ridden and outpaced 16th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 13, 20l behind Tom Sayers (11-3) at Wincanton 3m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Bak To Bill 20-1 (10-7) Always prominent, led approaching 6th, ridden and headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 18, 4l behind In Accord (11-7) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Twisted Logic (IRE) 22-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway 10th, ridden and mistake 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 41l behind Earl's Kitchen (10-12) at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Mar.
Kittenkat 33-1 (10-3) Prominent, led 15th until 4 out, one pace after, 5th of 14, 25l behind Hazeljack (9-10) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
