last pair, not fluent 3rd, headway to 4th at 9th, mistake next, ridden 14th, driven and struggling before 4 out, poor 4th when pulled up before 2 out
chased leader, ridden after 4 out, lost 2nd before 2 out, no extra in 3rd
led, not fluent 7th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon held
not fluent and not travelling early stages, travelled better after 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, led approaching 2 out, soon in command
last trio, mistake 2nd, closer order 6th, mistake next, dropped to last at 9th, bad mistake 12th, reminders and struggling before 14th, left poor 4th 2 out, tailed off
in rear, mistake 10th, blundered badly and pulled up 13th
A very ordinary affair and Irish import Referent must have every chance of finally getting off the mark over obstacles having finished second at Ayr on his first start for Sophie Leech. A visor is tried here but we'll take him on with OTTER MIST, who has been placed in both starts over fences having earlier hinted at ability over hurdles. Showman won between the flags last month but this is his first start under Rules and Brannoc was tailed off on his chasing bow at Sandown and this trip is likely to stretch his stamina.
Brannoc (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Hit 6th, behind 8th, tailed off, last of 4, well behind Toubab (10-12) at Sandown 2m nov chs (2) gd in Feb.
Otter Mist 9-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway before 5 out, went 3rd 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 23l behind Massini Sunset (10-8) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Perfectly Willing (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) In rear, pushed along before 5th, behind and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Makethe Mostofnow (11-9) at Ffos Las 3m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar, 12 ran.
Referent (FR) 9-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, chased winner from 7th, reminders before 12th, reminders before 4 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 25l behind Sole Witness (10-7) at Ayr 3m 1f beg chase (4) hvy in Mar.
Showman (IRE) 11-4 (12-0) Held up; hdwy 14; hmpd 2 out; mist last; led cl home, won at Penshurst 3m ptp gs in Mar beating Macdougal (12-0) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
All The Fashion (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Raced wide, chased leaders in 5th, went 3rd 5th, chased leader next until approaching 9th, mistake and lost place next, soon behind, poor 7th when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Malin Head (10-4) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Jan, 8 ran.