mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
prominent, ridden 3 out, chased leaders 2 out, led briefly after last, hard ridden and not pace of winner close home
held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on one pace
led, reminder 4th, headed 5th, ridden 6th and weakened
pulled early in touch, chased leader 6th, ridden and led 3 out, jumped left 2 out, mistake and headed last, rallied flat, led close home
held up last, effort 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace
mid-division, headway after 3 out, ridden and challenged 2 out, kept on same pace flat
prominent, ridden and hampered 2 out, soon chasing leaders, every chance last, hard ridden flat, just failed
prominent, led after 5th, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace
mid-division, ridden 3 out, blundered last, kept on same pace
always towards rear, tailed off from 5th
Withdrawn
Nonrunner
Marronnier hasn't always looked the most straightforward and so he needs to prove that his win last time out was no fluke; if in the same mood he should run well, however a more reliable option could be Mous Of Men and he gets the vote ahead of stablemate Harris Bay and Felinious. The selection only went down narrowly last time he was seen on the track and if he is tuned up for this reappearance, then he may prove the pick of the bunch. He is still young and with plenty of improvement expected this year, he can land the odds. Stablemate Harris Bay needs a check in the market today; he is rated much higher over fences and should be respected racing off this handicap mark, although it could prove to be a run more for sharpening him up. Felinious is match fit and comes here on the back of two decent wins but those have been weak races and a 9lb rise in the weights demands more improvement. The runner-up of last time, Thenameescapesme is exposed but has claims of getting closer with a 4lb pull in the weights. Brown Fox won very easily last time out but a 10lb rise means that he needs to pull a rabbit out of the hat having looked fairly exposed beforehand. Dunlea Dancer should be more of a threat having run well last time out although he doesn't look a star, whilst Devito returns from a break. He is winless in two years but he does handle any ground and shouldn't be ruled out as this is his time of year. An open affair, and narrow preference is for Mous Of Men.
Devito (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Prominent, ridden and chased winner 3 out, jumped right 2 out, ran on well and every chance flat, just failed, 2nd of 10, nk behind Brave Jo (10-0) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Dunlea Dancer 8-1 (11-7) Tracked clear leader, effort 3 out, soon one pace, 4th of 14, 7l behind Sun King (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Aug.
Harris Bay 9-1 (11-11) Always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Kerstino Two (11-0) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Spinning Coin 9-2 (10-11) Held up, ridden and some headway 7th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 8, well behind Gaelic Gift (9-10) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft.
Felinious 13-8fav (11-8) Held up in touch, not fluent 2nd, led 5th, not fluent last, ridden and ran on flat, won at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd beating Thenameescapesme (11-8) by 2l, 15 ran.
General Smith 16-1 (10-11) Hampered 1st, always behind, 10th of 11, 33l behind Scutch Mill (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Sept.
Mous Of Men (FR) 5-1 (10-3) In touch, took closer order 6th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on approaching last, just held, 2nd of 16, shd behind Nicki Boy (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Thenameescapesme 9-2 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden to chase winner before 2 out, stayed on, 2nd of 15, 2l behind Felinious (11-8) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd.
Brown Fox (FR) 12-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 3 out, led approaching last, driven clear flat, won at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in May beating Westfield Dancer (12-0) by 9l, 10 ran.
Dumaran (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 5th, soon chasing leaders, weakened after last, 6th of 14, 13l behind Le Corvee (11-1) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Bubbs 11-1 (10-9) Held up, mistake 4th, ridden next, soon lost touch, 7th of 8, 29l behind Marronnier (10-4) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Fire Ranger 33-1 (10-8) Led 2nd until 7th, weakened quickly, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Marronnier (10-4) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Marronnier (IRE) 25-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, joined leader 7th, led 3 out, not fluent 2 out, kept on well flat, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf beating Orion Express (11-8) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
