raced keenly, chased leader from 3rd, nudged along before 3 out, ridden approaching last where left in lead, kept on well flat
chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, switched right to challenge 3 out, every chance when fell 2 out
mid-division, dropped to rear 5th, nudged along after 7th, soon struggling, hampered leaving back straight, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, took closer order 6th, pecked 4 out, ridden after 3 out, left second last, no extra run-in
led, pecked and headed 1st, mistake 2nd, dropped to fourth before 6th, pushed along 4 out, made no impression from 2 out
pulled hard, jumped right on occasions, led after 1st, not fluent 6th, ridden for effort after 2 out, in control when bad mistake and fell last
held up in rear, slow 9th, soon pushed along, pulled up before 4 out
Goa Lil only managed one win over hurdles but has kept good company and made a promising reappearance at Chepstow. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ four-year-old gets a 9lb weight-for-age allowance so should be thereabouts if handling the switch to fences. Monsieur D'Arque has already run eight times over the larger obstacles but has improved this year, though been raised a further 2lb since his second at Newton Abbot. Onthefrontfoot has won a point, a bumper and two hurdles races and goes well fresh while Golden Taipan should be all the better for a run at Warwick but this can go to ERITAGE, who was progressive over hurdles in the first half of last season and has had wind surgery since last seen.
Eritage (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Led and wandered into several hurdles, ridden and headed between last 2, lost 2nd at the last, weakened badly run-in, 6th of 10, 27 3/4l behind Brinkley (10-12) at Newbury 2m 5f (4) sft in Feb.
Golden Taipan (IRE) 10-3 (11-4) Chased leader, slow 3rd, led 5th, soon headed, pushed along 7th, lost 2nd before 2 out, soon beaten, mistake last, lost 3rd flat, last of 4, 23 1/2l behind Getaway Trump (11-4) at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Indietir (FR) 20-1 (11-2) Held up in 4th on outside, took closer order 6th, jumped left from 4 out, outpaced next, well held before 2 out, 4th of 5, 16 3/4l behind Financier (11-2) at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Monsieur D'Arque (IRE) 10-3 (10-11) Waited with in rear, made good headway to challenge 2 out, ridden and went right under pressure approaching last, strongly ridden flat but no match for winner, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Scardura (10-13) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Onthefrontfoot (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Led to 1st, tracked leaders, outpaced after 2 out, no impression after, 4th of 16, 19 3/4l behind Olly The Brave (11-0) at Hereford 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Goa Lil (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, made most until 2 out, lost 2nd at the last, stayed on pressing for 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, 3rd of 12, 3 1/4l behind Thyme White (11-1) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Tricky Customer (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) In rear, hampered 8th, soon closed, lost place after next, rallied 4 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 7, 22l behind Vinnie The Hoddie (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
