held up tracking leaders in 5th place, closer at 4th, 3rd before 6th, led after 4 out, clear 3 out, stayed on well, kept up to work run-in
led until 13th, chased leader until after 13th, ridden in 3rd after 4 out, weakened and well held when fell 2 out
tracked leader, led 13th, headed after 4 out, chased winner, ridden and well held before 2 out, weakened into 3rd towards finish
raced keenly,hit 3rd mostly in 3rd place until before 6th, weakened tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
raced in close 4th until lost lace and dropped to rear 4th, reminders before 11th, pushed along in well held 4th before 3 out, left remote 3rd next, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
Vinnie The Hoddie got back to winning ways here in March and seems to need time between his races nowadays. Yccs Portocervo slips further down the weights with cheekpieces applied but a couple of runs over hurdles may have boosted the confidence of FAT SAM, who looked a promising type when winning three times last year over the larger obstacles. French import Secret Boris may be best watched after a lengthy absence.
Fat Sam 3-1 (11-9) Chased clear leader, close up 6th, ridden to lead before 3 out, narrow advantage 2 out, joined last, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 8, 4 1/4l behind Oceanline (10-11) at Worcester 2m 4f (4) gd in Jul.
Yccs Portocervo (FR) 9-2 (11-11) Chased winner until 11th, went 2nd again after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, lost 2nd and mistake last, weakened flat, 3rd of 5, 11 1/2l behind Costly Diamond (11-9) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Vinnie The Hoddie (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, led after 9th, shaken up after 3 out, ridden before last, pushed out run-in, readily, won at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (4) gs in Mar beating Le Ligerien (11-9) by 3l, 5 ran.
Secret Boris (FR) (10-12) at Nort Sur Erdre 2m sft in Aug.
L'Air Du Vent (FR) 10-3 (11-1) Tracked leading pair, went left at 6th, lost 3rd 8th, chased leading trio, weakened before 5 out where mistake, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Apr.