mid-division, headway 11th, jumped left and not fluent 4 out, close 2nd when not much room last, struck on nose by rival jockeys whip flat, bumped towards finish, just held
prominent, jumped right 2nd, lost 2nd next, lost some ground 5th, weakening when mistake 3 out, hampered 2 out
led, not fluent 6th, headed when fell 2 out
mid-division, towards rear 8th, headway 14th, 4th and beaten 3 out, left 3rd 2 out, no extra
chased leaders, took keen hold, went 2nd 3rd until 7th, lost place 8th, mistake next and 11th, pulled up before 12th
in rear, not fluent 5th, headway 11th, blundered and unseated rider 14th
towards rear, last when not fluent 6th, jumped left 13th, ridden in 7th before 4 out, well beaten from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, jumped right and not fluent 3rd, soon pulled up
chased leaders, hampered 2nd, went 2nd 10th, challenged 4 out, led 2 out, edged slightly right flat, bumped 2nd slightly close home, held on
in touch on outside, went 2nd 7th, mistake 9th, lost 2nd next, not fluent 11th, weakened 3 out, hampered 2 out
NonRunner
With Ben Bromley good value for his claim, How's The Cricket is interesting off bottom weight hailing from a yard that’s won this three times in the last six years. Fern Hill beat the subsequent Chepstow scorer Super Survivor over a shorter trip here in November but then disappointed at Kempton and got taken off his feet behind Festival winner Stage Star at Cheltenham in January. Though he won over hurdles, chasing is going to be the game for BLACKJACK MAGIC (NAP) who looked a natural at Exeter after a sighter at Ffos Las. A first try over 3m will almost certainly suit Our Jet and Iron Bridge is also a threat back on soft ground. Gustavian was second off this mark in this last year but well behind Super Survivor at Chepstow earlier this season and had only two rivals at Exeter latest.
Iron Bridge (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Towards rear, not much room 1st, headway 7th, mistake 11th, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 9, 7 1/2l behind Galahad Quest (11-1) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Fern Hill (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Towards rear on outside, not fluent 9th, pushed along 12th, behind 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Gustavian (IRE) 11-10fav (11-8) Made all, jumped well, soon clear, stayed on strongly run-in, unchallenged, won at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Feb beating Masters Legacy (11-10) by 29l, 3 ran.
Super Survivor (IRE) 85-40 (10-9) Held up behind leaders, went 2nd before 8th, pushed before 14th where pecked on landing, ridden to join leader 3 out, hit front before 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Mister Coffey (11-10) by 5l, 6 ran.
Blackjack Magic 5-2 (11-8) Jumped well, tracked leader, led 3rd, made rest, ridden clear omitted 3 out, eased towards finish (3rd fence in home straight omitted due to false ground, 16 fences in total), won at Exeter 3m hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating Rose Of Arcadia (11-3) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
Dans Le Vent (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Off the pace in rear, outpaced and lost touch 4th, went moderate 3rd turning in, 3rd of 5, 21 1/2l behind Saint Segal (11-2) at Hereford 2m (3) sft in Jan.
Mister Watson 4-1 (11-13) Chased leaders, headway to lead before 3 out, pushed along 2 out, kept on from last, won at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Generous Day (11-9) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Mackelduff (FR) 5-1 (12-0) In touch with leaders, shaken up 4 out, pushed along 3 out, pecked on landing 2 out, went second before last, soon every chance, kept on well to lead close home, won at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan beating East Street (11-4) by nk, 9 ran.
Autonomous Cloud (IRE) 15-8fav (11-12) Led, ridden and hard pressed 4 out, pulled few lengths clear 2 out, repressed last, headed final 100 yards, no extra, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Tip Top Cat (11-9) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
How's The Cricket (IRE) 2-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, went 3rd at 9th, 2nd before 4 out, ridden and no impression when hung left before 3 out, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Heltenham (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Our Jet (IRE) 6-4fav (11-0) In rear, in touch on outer, went 3rd after 12th, pushed along after 4 out, hit 3 out, stayed on one pace, not fluent last, 3rd of 5, 6 3/4l behind Gemirande (10-9) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Feb.