held up in touch, good headway tracking leaders 5th, went 2nd before 2 out, led 2 out until between last 2, kept on same pace no chance with winner
chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, led soon after 3 out, headed 2 out, soon ridden and lost 2nd, weakened before the last
held up in touch on inside, headway chasing leaders when mistake 3 out, weakened soon after
pressed leader, led narrowly 4th until next, lost 2nd before 3 out, weakened soon after
towards rear, hit 6th, behind and no chance after
led until 4th, in front again next, mistake 3 out, soon headed, lost 2nd on long run before next, weakened soon after
held up in last pair, headway tracking leaders went 3rd on long run before 2 out, challenged and hit 2 out, 3rd and one pace before last
keen, soon tracking leaders on outside, weakened 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before the last
in touch, smooth headway before 2 out, went 2nd soon after 2 out, led between last 2, clear last, kept on strongly
River Bray will have found 2m1f too short on his handicap debut at Exeter having been quite consistent at around this trip. ECU DE LA NOVERIE scored over fences in France and amateur owner/rider David Maxwell was on board when he made a successful debut over hurdles for Philip Hobbs at Newbury. A rating of 130 probably underestimates his ability and he can go in again. Esprit De Somoza has run in better company than this since scoring at Huntingdon in January while Oxford Blu is another dropping in class though he ran poorly when last seen in May. First Du Charmil has only had four runs over hurdles and hasn't run since January. Winning point-to-pointer and bumper Don Des Fosses fell on his hurdling debut and doesn't look to have recovered his confidence.
Ecu De La Noverie (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, 2nd going well before 4 out, led last, rider dropped reins and narrowly headed 100 yards out, rallied gamely to lead again post, won at Newbury 2m (4) gs in Nov beating Mister Fisher (10-12) by shd, 16 ran.
Esprit De Somoza (FR) 33-1 (11-2) Held up, slow 3rd, closed 4 out, outpaced after 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 6, 14 1/2l behind Pearl Of The West (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m (2) gd in Oct.
River Bray (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden and left 3rd when hampered last, one pace, 3rd of 8, 8 1/2l behind Watcombe Heights (11-8) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Ruacana 50-1 (11-11) Always behind, 16th of 21, 29 3/4l behind Master Dancer (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Oxford Blu 11-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, weakened quickly 3 out, soon tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Ballinure (11-9) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in May.
Don Des Fosses (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Led until 5th, chased leader until after 4 out, weakened quickly, 5th of 6, dist behind Full Bore (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) gd in Nov.
Ar Mest (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division, not fluent 1st, weakened before 2 out, 9th of 20, 26 1/4l behind Totterdown (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
First Du Charmil (FR) 9-2 (11-5) Led until after 1st, prominent, 3rd and held when not fluent 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 15, 16 1/4l behind Turtle Wars (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Rough Night (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Chased leader, jumped left 1st, 2nd halfway, 5th after 4 out, ridden and no extra entering straight, 9th of 11, 28 1/2l behind Rideonastar (11-0) at Cork 2m Soft - Heavy in May.
