led, hit 12th headed next, weakened quickly, tailing off when pulled up before 15th
chased leader until 3rd, chased leaders, 2nd again after 13th until after 15th, chased leaders, weakened before omitted 4 out, tailed off next, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, closer in mid-division 5th, headway out wide chasing leaders 11th, led 15th, made rest, 2 lengths ahead last, stayed on well
chased leaders on inside, outpaced after 3 out, well held after
mid-division, pushed along after 14th, bit closer before omitted 4 out, soon ridden and weakened before next
towards rear on inside, behind and struggling after 14th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up soon after
held up in rear, headway out wide chasing leaders when blundered 15th, driven after 3 out, stayed on into never nearer 3rd towards finish
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 5th, went 2nd after 15th, ridden between last 2, 2 lengths down and held last, kept on same pace run-in
towards rear, closer in mid-division at 9th, mistake 13th, headway chasing leaders after 15th, 3rd when hit 2 out, held when hit last, lost that placing towards finish
prominent, chased leader 3rd, went left 10th, led 13th until 15th, lost 2nd soon after, weakened quickly, tailed off 3 out, pulled up soon after
towards rear, behind when mistake 8th, tailing off when pulled up after next
held up towards rear, pushed along and struggling after 14th, only 7th and plenty to do jumping 3 out, kept on run-in, never nearer
Most of these arrive in form, including Defi Des Carres who was only beaten a short-head in a cross-country race at Cheltenham on his first start for Charlie Mann. However, form in those races doesn’t always translate back to conventional circuits. Seaston Spirit has won four of his last five but would be high enough in the weights now. Rathlin Rose isn’t getting any younger but was a close third in this last year. Salty Boy ran well in a higher grade at Haydock and Special Acceptance was a winner over a shorter trip here last month. Dawson City is a dour stayer but tends to run his best races at Exeter. BENEVOLENTDICTATOR easily landed the odds here last month after making a winning start over fences at Lingfield. This is his toughest task to date but he may still be on a decent mark if he progresses again.
Like The Sound (FR) 18-1 (11-9) Prominent, pushed and dropped to rear before 12th, pulled up before 13th, at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Defi Des Carres (FR) 16-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th, led 18th, 4 lengths ahead last, headed last stride, 2nd of 10, shd behind Some Neck (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Seaston Spirit 16-1 (11-1) Prominent, led 3rd, clear 7th, ridden 2 out, ran on, won at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Out The Glen (10-1) by 21l, 12 ran.
Salty Boy (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Held up, headway 12th, ridden to chase leaders before 4 out, outpaced before 2 out, stayed on from last, took 3rd flat, 3rd of 10, 6 1/4l behind Sam's Adventure (11-4) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Dawson City 6-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, ridden before 4 out, chased leader 2 out, driven to lead narrowly last, stayed on flat, headed final strides, 2nd of 11, hd behind Findusatgorcombe (10-0) at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Rathlin Rose (IRE) 15-2 (11-11) Held up in midfield, headway to chase leaders 4 out, ridden along before 2 out, stayed on well to challenge last, pressed winner when slightly hampered flat, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Twojayslad (10-1) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Benevolentdictator 10-11fav (11-3) Held up towards rear, hit 8th, awkward 11th, pushed to chase leaders 12th, close up 4 out, led 3 out, ridden and soon clear before 2 out where mistake, stayed on before last, eased close home, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Garrane (11-8) by 14l, 5 ran.
Special Acceptance 11-5fav (11-11) Raced in touch, took closer order 11th, went second 4 out, ridden to challenge before 2 out, led last, ran on well flat, all out, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Smuggler's Blues (11-10) by nk, 8 ran.
Bermeo (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Midfield, jumped left 5th, not fluent 9th, ridden and lost place back straight, detached before 4 out, well adrift when tired jump 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Goodnight Charlie 28-1 (12-0) Led until after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 11, 29 1/2l behind Volcano (11-8) at Warwick 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Sackett 22-1 (11-10) Led 1st, headed next, nudged along after 9th, dropped to rear next, weakened quickly and pulled up after 11th, at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Cheque En Blanc (FR) 12-1 (11-12) In touch towards rear, ridden and outpaced 3 out, rallied approaching last, kept on, 4th of 8, 12 1/4l behind Friends Don't Ask (10-8) at Fakenham 3m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
