led, hit 4th, joined 3 out, ridden and led again before 2 out, drew clear after 2 out, stayed on well, comfortably
in rear, in touch, headway to chase leaders home turn, went 2nd before 2 out, pushed along and bad mistake 2 out, soon well held
towards rear, in touch, pushed along after 3 out, well behind when fell final flight
prominent, disputed lead 3 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened quickly
handy, not fluent 5th, pushed along before 4 out and dropped to last, struggling and pulled up after 3 out
DILIGENT, a six-times winner over fences, won over hurdles at Newton Abbot last year and can defy a penalty and an absence to score again with Kieran Buckley taking off a handy 5lb. The four-year-old Inca De Lafayette also carries 7lb extra having made a winning start over timber here in February but looks the danger. Gold In Doha, fourth at Fontwell, may be best of the rest.
Diligent (FR) 2-13fav (11-5) Led, headed 3 out, soon ridden, ran on to press leader last, kept on, always held, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Battle March (10-10) at Exeter 2m 3f (4) gf in Oct.
Gold In Doha (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Held up in touch, not fluent 3 out, jumped right 2 out, held in 3rd when jumped right last, stayed on same pace, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 12, 11 1/4l behind World Of Dreams (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn (4) gd in Nov.
Tip Top Tonto (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 10, 16 3/4l behind Donny Boy (11-0) at Kelso 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Inca De Lafayette (FR) 11-4 (10-8) Mid-division, headway before 5th, challenged 2 out, led last, ridden clear flat, won at Taunton 2m mdn (4) gs in Feb beating Moorland Rambler (10-8) by 4 1/2l, 14 ran.
To Dream 250-1 (11-0) Settled behind leaders, mid-division halfway, mistake 5 out, ridden and no extra after 3 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, at Limerick 2m mdn sft in Feb.
