tracked leader, led 2nd, made rest, clear fter 2 out, kept on strongly
in touch and in rear, pushed along before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, no impression
led to 2nd, weakened from 5 out
tracked leaders in 3rd and keen, pushed long before 2 out, kept on and no chance with winner
Vago Collonges has leading claims with a decent comeback effort at Exeter under his belt. But MAXIMISER (NAP) beat odds-on shot and subsequent winner Master Dee at Carlisle doing handstands on his hurdling debut and could be anything. Simon West's charge gets the vote to continue winning ways. Adam Du Breteau and How About It are point-to-point winners but the latter was well beaten in a bumper last month while Top Cat DJ looks outclassed in this company.
Maximiser (IRE) 10-1 (10-7) Chased clear leader 2nd, led 4 out, clear 2 out, eased flat, very easy, won at Carlisle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Oct beating Master Dee (10-12) by 36l, 10 ran.
How About It (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 10f out, lost place over 3f out, well beaten final 2f, 8th of 12, 31l behind Moon Racer (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m NH flat (4) gs in Oct.
Top Cat Dj (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, weakened 4 out, 13th of 15, well behind Pay The King (10-7) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Vago Collonges (FR) 9-4 (10-12) Mid-division, mistake 6th, headway next, travelling well in close 3rd before 3 out, went 2nd when mistake 2 out, soon shaken up, no impression on winner from last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Thomas Brown (10-12) at Exeter 2m 5f nov hdl (3) gs.
Adam du Breteau (FR) 6-4 (11-9) Ld, jnd aftr 5th, hdd 7th, disp again 5out until ld 4out, faster jump when gng best 2out, sow, easily, won at Dromahane 3m ire ptp sft in Mar beating Na Trachtalai Abu (11-9) by 6l, 8 ran.