made all, not fluent 2nd, 3 lengths clear 3 out, ridden 2 out, idled towards finish
tracked winner until 13th, mistake and outpaced 4 out, tailed off
close up in 3rd, went 2nd 13th, ridden 2 out, mistake last, driven and rallied towards finish
Net Work Rouge beat a small field at Stratford last August but has been absent since well beaten at Bangor the following month. Next Exit has won just once in 23 starts over fences and is only rated 76 so might struggle to compete with younger rivals. SHELFORD made hard work of beating two rivals at Towcester last month but was then only beaten a head at Hereford. Rated 142 over hurdles, he should have more to offer and can get back to winning ways
Net Work Rouge (FR) 11-4 (11-6) Led until 11th, led and jumped right next, headed after 4 out, led again next, soon headed, weakened from 2 out, 3rd of 4, 34l behind Rolling Maul (11-0) at Bangor 3m (4) gd in Sep.
Next Exit (IRE) 33-1 (10-2) Led to 9th, chased leader, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 9, dist behind Rocknrollrambo (11-2) at Huntingdon 3m hcp (5) gs in Mar.
Shelford (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, left 3rd when blundered 5 out, went 2nd after next, ridden after 2 out, led narrowly last, kept on, headed narrowly near finish, 2nd of 5, hd behind Have A Go Hero (10-12) at Hereford 3m 1f (4) gs in Mar.
