tracked leaders on outside, went close 2nd before 7th (water), led 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on when strongly pressed flat, held on well
held up in touch, tracked leaders when switched wide before 3 out, soon driven and outpaced, stayed on into modest 3rd flat, no chance with clear pair
tracked leaders on inside, switched left after 3 out, went 2nd when switched inside again after 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to challenge and every chance flat, held near finish
held up in rear, outpaced 3 out, well held after
tracked leader, lost place but still in touch when fell 7th (water)
led, headed 3 out, lost 2nd next, soon ridden, no chance with clear pair before last, lost modest 3rd flat
NonRunner
Connections of a few of these will have ambitions to run in the Arkle in March but this is a Grade 1 contest in its own right with a decent prize attached. Summerville Boy would have been the best of these over hurdles but wasn’t entirely convincing when making a winning start to his chase career at Uttoxeter, though the form is working out well. TORPILLO had a subsequent winner back in third when making all at Warwick and his weight-for-age allowance may just be enough for him to end the winning run of Nube Negra, who has taken to fences like a duck to water. Grand Sancy was a Grade 2 and Listed winner over hurdles and should make a chaser and Esprit Du Large readily accounted for decent opposition at Exeter, though that was over an extra half-mile.
Esprit Du Large (FR) 9-4 (11-2) Held up in close 4th, headway travelling well when led 3 out, nudged readily clear run-in, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 3f (3) sft in Nov beating Coolanly (11-2) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Grand Sancy (FR) 11-4 (11-6) Led, quickened before 2 out, dived at 2 out, joined between last 2, headed last, driven and stayed on run-in, always held, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Fusil Raffles (11-3) at Wincanton 1m 7f (1) gs in Nov.
Nube Negra (SPA) 2-5fav (11-7) Jumped well throughout, tracked leader, led 4 out, clear 2 out, comfortable, won at Fakenham 2m (3) gd in Oct beating Encore Champs (11-2) by 10l, 5 ran.
Return Ticket (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Half whipped round start, mostly 2nd until 12th, 2nd again after 4 out until mistake 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 5, 19l behind Sam Spinner (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 3f (4) gs in Oct.
Summerville Boy (IRE) 2-1jfav (11-2) Tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, switched wide before 5 out, 3rd and driven when switched towards inside 2 out, soon ridden, led before last, asserted clear flat, won at Uttoxeter 2m (3) sft in Nov beating First Flow (11-2) by 4l, 6 ran.
Torpillo (FR) 13-8fav (10-9) Made all, not fluent last, stayed on well, driven out, won at Warwick 2m (3) sft in Nov beating Mister Fisher (11-2) by 3l, 5 ran.
Beakstown (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Raced keenly, tracked leader until 3rd, remained prominent, went 2nd again and pecked badly 4 out, ridden and lost 2nd between last 2, weakened into 4th at the last, 4th of 6, 10 1/4l behind Champ (11-5) at Newbury 2m 6f (3) gs in Nov.
