held up, ridden 4 out, headway and hanging left 2 out, went 3rd close home, no chance with winner
not always fluent, led, hung right on bend before 2nd, headed before 2 out, no extra flat
chased leaders, not fluent 4 out, soon hanging right, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, headway 4 out, went 2nd after last, no chance with winner, kept on
tracked leaders, led before 2 out, soon clear, eased towards finish
held up in rear, headway 4 out, disputing 2nd last, no chance with winner, kept on same pace
keen and awkward when ran out 1st
With the expectation of more to come now going hurdling Exeter bumper winner STORY OF FRIENDS, who has also scored between the flags, looks the one to be on. Yccs Portocervo is having a first run for Richard Newland having showed ability in France and can’t be left out of calculations but Dontcounturchikens was a long way behind the principals when third at Newton Abbot. Montana Grey and Overflow have scope so are worth a market check.
Dontcounturchikens (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Chased leading trio, pushed along and outpaced after 3 out, went modest 3rd before next, 3rd of 5, 17 1/4l behind Boomarang (11-2) at Newton Abbot 2m 2f mdn (4) gd in Apr.
Espressino 25-1 (11-10) (h) bhnd til ur 3 out, at Upcott Cross 2m 4f mdn gs in Apr.
Montana Grey (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, kept on into 4th closing stages, never able to challenge, 4th of 10, 13 1/2l behind Nimby (11-0) at Lingfield 2m (5) pol in Dec.
Spicy Fruity (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Tracked leader, led 7th, ridden and headed 3 out, soon lost place, behind when pulled up approaching last, at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Story Of Friends (FR) 13-8fav (11-2) Held up in rear, headway over 4f out, soon chasing leaders, led over 1f out, ran on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f (5) gd in May beating Rectory Oak (10-12) by 3 3/4l, 11 ran.
Gotaloton 5-2fav (11-0) Bad hmpd & ur 1, at Cothelstone 3m mdn in May.
Overflow (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, driven after 3 out, stayed on to take 4th after last, no chance with leaders, 4th of 13, 18 3/4l behind Now Look At Me (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (5) gd in May.
Yccs Portocervo (FR) (11-0) 5th of 11, 6l behind Fuji Flight (10-5) at Le Touquet 2m 1f gd in Sep.