took keen hold, held up in last pair, headway on inside and went prominent in chasing group 3rd, tracked leading pair 5th, 2nd going well 3 out, every chance when hung left next, ridden and no extra before the last
jumped slickly, took keen hold, led approaching 2nd, soon clear, reduced lead 4 out, joined 2 out, strongly pressed last, stayed on gamely to assert before last
prominent in chasing group until approaching 4th where mistake, rallied into modest 4th place after 4 out, no chance with leading trio, mistake 3 out
took keen hold, prominent in chasing group on outside, pushed along and outpaced in 5th after 4 out, no chance with leading trio, tailed off when blundered 3 out, mistake next
raced in 3rd until 5th, soon lost place, never on terms after, tailed off
prominent in chasing group until lost place 3rd and dropped to last pair, no chance after, tailed off
led until approaching 2nd, chased (clear) winner, closed 4 out, pushed along and lost 2nd 3 out, no chance with leading duo, mistake next
in rear, remote 5th 3 out, never a factor, tailed off
Benatar was tried in Listed company after making a winning debut over hurdles at Fontwell. He was prominent for a long way and is back in the right grade today but LE BREUIL could not have been more impressive when easily beating a subsequent winner at Sedgefield in November. Still holding a couple of entries at Cheltenham, he runs in this rather than a Grade 2 at Kelso tomorrow and the hint should be taken. First Du Charmil should enjoy this step up in trip after staying on into third behind Top Ville Ben at Towcester but Woodfort is starting to look a little exposed and may be better over further.
Benatar (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Raced keenly, made most until mistake and headed 2 out, weakened between last two, 4th of 6, 11 3/4l behind Keeper Hill (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f lst (1) gs in Feb.
Le Breuil (FR) 2-1fav (10-12) Tracked leader, led before 5 out, headed 4 out, led again before 3 out, clear before 2 out, kept on strongly, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f (4) gs in Nov beating The Bay Oak (10-12) by 9l, 7 ran.
First Du Charmil (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Tracked winner until 3 out, soon outpaced, 3rd of 8, 9 1/2l behind Top Ville Ben (11-9) at Towcester 2m (4) hvy in Feb.
Midnight Merlot 50-1 (11-5) Held up, took keen hold, in touch from 2nd, mistake 6th, weakened before 2 out, 3rd of 6, 30l behind Ballyarthur (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f (4) sft in Jan.
Walter Oneeightone (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, pushed along 7th, soon weakened, 9th of 11, 27 3/4l behind Seymour Star (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Winido 25-1 (11-3) Slow 1st, way off the pace in mid-division, well tailed off after 3 out, 11th of 14, dist behind Mohaayed (11-3) at Taunton 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Woodfort 11-4 (11-4) Prominent, hampered and unseated rider 2nd, at Ludlow 3m mdn (4) gs in Feb.
Betterlatethanneva (IRE) 100-1 (10-10) Blundered 1st, always towards rear, 9th of 15, dist behind Shantou Rock (11-3) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) sft in Feb.
Doolin 14-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 9, dist behind Kimberlite Candy (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f mdn (3) gs in Nov.