raced in 3rd off the pace until dropped to last trio 4th, closed to track leading pair 14th, led after 4 out, clear next, stayed on well, easily
last trio, reminders and struggling 10th, mistake 11th, tailed off when pulled up after 13th
led, mistake 2nd, ridden and headed after 4 out, weakened before next, poor 3rd when pulled up before last
bucking after start, pulled up before 1st
chased leader, hit 8th and next, chased winner after 4 out, no chance from next
chased leading pair 4th until 14th, soon ridden, and struggling, left poor 3rd again before last, tailed off
last trio, ridden after 10th, ridden and mistake 14th, last and struggling soon after, left poor 4th before last, tailed off
Salut Honore has won two of his last three starts including a victory at Catterick last month and another bold bid looks likely from him off a 5lb higher mark. Double Chocolate won over these fences in October and would also figure if back to his best after a couple of below par efforts since, but a chance is taken that RIVER D'OR is the one who bounces back to form today. Sophie Leech's charge has a legitimate excuse for being well beaten of late as he was competing in much better company. A repeat of his earlier placed efforts at Catterick and Cheltenham before that would be good enough to land this contest and he gets the nod with the remainder hard to fancy.
River D'or (FR) 15-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, lost place 6th, under pressure 5 out, soon beaten, last of 4, 35l behind Mr Hudson (10-12) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f nov chs (3) gd in Mar.
Nudge And Nurdle (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Held up behind in touch, outpaced 12th, never near leaders, 6th of 9, well behind Corkage (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Evella (IRE) 17-2 (11-6) Tracked winner until after 4 out, weakened before next, pulled up before last, in a race won by Ring Bo Ree (11-5) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb, 10 ran.
Double Chocolate 25-1 (11-10) Maded most until not fluent and headed 12th, blundered and weakened 14th, 7th of 11, 21l behind Lexicon Lad (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov.
Salut Honore (FR) 13-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, blundered 7th and soon lost place, headway before 5 out, led before 3 out, driven out run-in, held on well towards finish, won at Catterick 3m 1f 5yo nov hcp (4) gs in Mar beating Brokethegate (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Near The Water (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Well in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Killfinnan Castle (10-1) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Mar, 12 ran.
El Diego (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Soon tracking leader, slow 3rd, gradually lost place, behind from 6th, 7th of 11, well behind Pretty Penny (10-4) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Jan.
