jumped right, made all and clear at times, joined 2 out, ridden to assert approaching last, driven out
never travelled or jumped with any fluency, chased winner until not fluent and lost 2nd 6th, dropped to 4th place 13th, struggling next, remote 3rd again before 2 out
held up in 5th, closer in 4th place at 5th, 3rd at 13th, went 2nd and pecked 4 out, every chance 2 out, no extra before last
chased leading pair, blundered 3rd, went 2nd 6th until 4 out, weakened into 4th before 2 out
dropped to last place 5th, blundered 9th, outpaced 13th, no chance after, tailed off
After completing a double at this level at Ludlow and Haydock, VIRAK took his chance in the Foxhunter at Cheltenham where he could never go the pace behind stable companion Pacha Du Polder. He'll find this much less daunting and can take care of O Maonlai. The latter wasn't a bad chaser in his day, winning a very tough handicap at Newbury in November 2016, but he was well beaten into second on his hunter chase debut at Exeter and may have to settle for a place again. Strumble Head, who has won 13 times in his career, makes his debut at this level and is no forlorn hope but the remaining pair have been running moderately between the flags.
Strumble Head (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Jumped right at times, led until 6th, led after 7th, not fluent 11th or 14th, headed when not fluent 4 out, left 2nd 3 out, 3rd and weakening last, 3rd of 7, 20 1/4l behind Wizards Bridge (11-9) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Virak (FR) 14-1 (12-0) Mid-division, hampered 15th, weakened 3 out, 13th of 24, dist behind Pacha Du Polder (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) sft in Mar.
O Maonlai (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up in last pair, steady headway tracking leaders 11th, went 3rd approaching 4 out, mistake 2 out, went 2nd and mistake last, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 7, 16l behind Salubrious (11-12) at Exeter 2m 3f (6) hvy in Apr.
Railway Storm (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Held up; went 2nd 15; ev ch til wknd 2 out, 4th of 6, 16 3/4l behind Lotus Pond (11-7) at Barbury Racecourse 3m in Apr.
Too Late To Sell (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Outpcd 15; rallied 3 out; no imp, 3rd of 11, 15l behind Bistouri D'honore (12-0) at Badbury Rings 3m in Apr.