chased leaders, hit 10th and next, outpaced when mistake 4 out, rallied under pressure 2 out, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
last pair, blundered and almost unseated rider 6th, rallied before 3 out, 3rd before next, ridden between last 2, weakened last
chased leader until jumped slowly 8th, chased leaders, lost 3rd after 4 out, weakened before next
held up in last trio, hit 8th, weakened 10th, tailed off 4 out
chased leading pair, went 2nd at 8th, led 4 out, clear before next, stayed on strongly
held up in last pair, headway tracking leading trio 12th, 3rd after 4 out until before next, weakened, poor 7th when blundered badly last
led until 4 out, chased winner, well held when lost 2nd before next, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders on outside, went 2nd before 3 out, never any chance with winner, lost 2nd towards finish
Roll The Dough has been in fine form since returning to action in September and won three of his four starts over fences subsequently. But he’s upped in class and raised a further 4lb after his latest success at Hereford. Tommy Silver last won a chase at this time last year and has slipped down the weights since. He should go well on the back of a fourth at Aintree but SISTER SIBYL (NAP) looks the more progressive. She found the smart chaser Diakali too good when dropped back to 2m at Cheltenham on her reappearance but Hughie Morrison’s mare had won over 2m4f at Warwick back in May and gets the vote to come good again in this. Officer Hoolihan remains 7lb higher than when last winning and Bestwork continues to struggle while Deauville Dancer was due to run at Exeter yesterday.
Tommy Silver (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway from 6th, close 3rd 2 out, no impression before last, 4th of 11, 10 3/4l behind Yorkist (11-5) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Sister Sibyl (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, hampered and some headway 2 out, went 3rd last, left 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 9l behind Diakali (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (2) gd in Oct.
Bestwork (FR) 40-1 (10-9) Raced keenly, chased leaders, blundered 17th, weakened soon after, 10th of 16, dist behind Present Man (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Officer Hoolihan 14-1 (11-12) Held up in last, jumped left 4 out, soon ridden, went 3rd 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 4, 9l behind Silverhow (11-3) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Deauville Dancer (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden normal 2 out, one pace before last bend, 4th of 8, 13 1/4l behind Cobra De Mai (11-12) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Workbench (FR) 12-1 (11-11) Close up when slithered on landing 4th, pulled up, at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Eyesopenwideawake (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Led until 10th, not fluent next, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next, at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Roll The Dough (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led next, 4 lengths clear before last, driven out, won at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (4) gf in Nov beating Samson (10-6) by 1l, 9 ran.
