held up, headway before 6th, challenged 2 out, carried left last, led briefly, no impression on winner, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, lost place before 3 out, jumped left and mistake when well beaten 2 out
tracked leaders, jumped left 2 out, closed last, led flat, ridden clear, stayed on well
tracked leaders on outside, outpaced before 3 out, no impression after, plugged on
raced keenly, led or disputed lead, jumped left and mistake last, soon headed, one pace
led or disputed lead, not fluent 6th, ridden before 3 out, beaten next, soon weakened
EXOD’ELA (NAP) appeared to run out of stamina over 2m7f at Exeter last time so this shorter trip and sharper track should play more to his strengths and he’s been threatening a first victory under Rules. The lightly-raced Nautical Star has had wind surgery since his second over 2m around here while the operation appeared to improve Electron Bleu at Newcastle, though the top weight’s strike-rate is off-putting. Oscar Asche showed a big improvement when landing a maiden over course and distance last month and neither Grey Getaway nor the well-bred The Newest One can be ignored in an open-looking affair.
Electron Bleu (FR) 11-4 (11-5) Raced keenly, led, ridden after 2 out, headed flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind The Wolf (11-12) at Newcastle 2m 6f (4) sft in Jan.
Nautical Star (GER) 20-1 (10-12) Jumped left, led, headed and hung left flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Hijack (10-12) at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Exod'ela (FR) 9-4 (10-12) Held up in last pair, closer on outside approaching 3 out, went 3rd next, pressing for well held 2nd when carried left at the last, 3rd of 7, 25 1/2l behind Unwin Vc (10-12) at Exeter 2m 7f (4) hvy in Dec.
Oscar Asche (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway before 7th, led and mistake last, driven out, won at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn (4) sft in Jan beating I'm Wiser Now (11-5) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
The Newest One (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Disputing 4 place, taken wide before 3 out, plugged on in 3rd from after 2 out, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 6, 28l behind Palladium (10-10) at Sandown 2m (3) hvy in Feb.
Grey Getaway (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Held up, headway on outside 6th, ridden and weakened approaching last, 3rd of 15, 17 1/2l behind Caswell Bay (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
