led, headed 3rd, tracked clear leader, closed 6th, led and blundered 4 out, headed next, weakened 2 out
towards rear, in rear 5 out, pulled up 3 out
raced wide, not fluent in rear 1st, headway 7th, chased leader 3 out, led and jumped badly left 2 out, ridden out
in rear, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leading pair 2 out, kept on one pace
in touch, headway to track leaders 8th, led 3 out, headed and badly hampered and bumped next, switched right run in, driven and stayed on towards finish
tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place 8th, weakened 4 out, jumped awkwardly next
prominent, led and not fluent 3rd, soon clear, reduced lead 6th, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened 2 out
towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden next, kept on one pace
Thor De Cerisy had been racing in France before being placed over fences at Lingfield then showed his liking for heavy ground back over hurdles here. MONGOL EMPEROR completed a hurdles double in March 2021 and raced over fences at the backend of last year. He hasn't had much racing and looks capable of better. Prime Pretender keeps finding one too good and the assessor can't drop him while dual hurdles winner Real Stone has two poor efforts over fences behind him. Another Crick was well supported at Wincanton but was impeded at the start and reportedly didn't take to first-time blinkers.
Thor De Cerisy (FR) 9-4fav (11-5) Led until 1st, chased leader, led 4th, clear from last, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating Zambezi Fix (11-10) by 4l, 7 ran.
File Illico (FR) 18-1 (11-12) Soon towards rear, reminders in rear and struggling after 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Real Stone 16-1 (12-2) Chased leaders, pushed along 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 9, 32 3/4l behind Mister Watson (11-13) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Mongol Emperor (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 8th, went 2nd 4 out until after 2 out, hung left before the last, weakened into 4th run-in, 4th of 10, 10l behind Gamaret (11-4) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Another Crick 3-1fav (11-3) Hampered 1st, towards rear, slow 3rd, dropped to last before 6th, struggling and pushed along next, pulled up before 3 out, at Wincanton 2m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Est Illic (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Chased leader until 3rd (water), chased leaders, weakened 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Rooster Cogburn (IRE) 80-1 (12-1) Prominent on outside, led and not fluent 7th, headed next, lost place before 4 out, soon well held, 5th of 9, 25 1/4l behind Bolsover Bill (11-1) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
Prime Pretender 6-4fav (11-6) Held up in last pair, closer in 4th after 7th, went 2nd 4 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 9 1/2l behind Valirann Gold (10-2) at Chepstow 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
