held up in touch, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, raced keenly, mistake 5th and 6th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 4 out, not fluent 2 out, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on flat
held up, behind from 9th, tailed off
prominent, mistake 5th, ridden 4 out, weakening when mistake 3 out
held up towards rear, hit 3rd, headway 10th, outpaced after 2 out, stayed on flat, no impression on winner
mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, ridden after 2 out, close 2nd when fell last
led, headed after 2nd, chased leaders, led 9th, headed 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
raced keenly, pressed leader, led after 2nd, headed 9th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
took keen hold, held up in last, headway approaching 4 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, slightly hampered 1st, headway 8th, led 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra flat
always in rear, behind from 9th, tailed off
A competitive start to proceedings and from a shortlist of PREDATEUR, Crescent Island, Country Affair and Masked Man the vote is given to Predateur. The selection disappointed when last seen out at Wincanton but he had previously gone close in a novices' chase at Cheltenham and a reproduction of that effort would make him tough to beat. Nigel Twiston-Davies sends Crescent Island to post here and he does have the benefit of race fitness on his side and he ran a solid race at Chepstow last time. Country Affair has got some decent form over hurdles, but he will need to improve for the switch to these bigger obstacles if he is to win this. Masked Man has shown all his best form on testing ground and he looks one to take on. All of which returns us to Predateur who should be tough to beat.
Chiaro (FR) 10-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened after next, 9th of 13, 49l behind Jug Of Punch (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Apr.
Country Affair (USA) 11-2 (11-4) Held up, headway approaching 6th, every chance last, one pace flat, 3rd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Pigeon Island (11-4) at Hereford 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in Sept '07.
Crescent Island (IRE) 15-8 (10-9) Held up in touch, hit 6th, tracked winner next, driven 10th ridden 4 out, hit 3 out, pecked 2 out and lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Herecomesthetruth (10-12) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (3) gd.
Just A Thought (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Keen tracking leaders, hit 2nd, ridden after 5th, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 41l behind Psychiatrist (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Kawagino (IRE) 7-2 (10-7) Chased winner until after 3rd, jumped slowly 6th, no danger after, 5th of 6, 10l behind Warpath (11-4) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in May.
Kia Kaha 7-4fav (11-8) Mid-division, headway 4th, weakened after 3 out, 9th of 13, 49l behind I'm So Lucky (11-6) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Masked Man (IRE) 13-2 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, no impression from next, 5th of 13, 21l behind Ouzbeck (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Mount Sandel (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up, ridden 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Marodima (11-12) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in May.
Musical Chairs (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, no impression, 8th of 13, well behind Qrackers (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Paradise Regained (FR) 14-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 11, 31l behind Quickbeam (11-7) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Predateur (FR) 15-8fav (11-11) In touch, headway 4 out, soon ridden and beaten, 4th of 6, 23l behind Pur De Sivola (10-13) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp chs (2) gs in Jan.
Wasntme (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Held up, short lived effort 11th, tailed off and pulled up in race won by Exmoor Ranger (11-5) at Exeter 3m beg chs (4) gs, 11 ran.
