several slow jumps, led until 1st, chased leaders, pushed along after 9th, driven 4 out, no impression, went 3rd flat
took keen hold, led 1st, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on well
always last and sometimes not fluent, well beaten 4 out, tailed off
tracked winner after 1st, challenging when not fluent 3rd, pushed along 4 out, lost 2nd next, one pace next, no extra flat
tracked leaders, pushed along before 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, no impression on winner flat
Massena returns to the larger obstacles after a couple of placed efforts over hurdles. But he was well beaten off today's mark at Taunton despite finishing second on his latest outing over fences. Kie unshipped his rider after an early mistake at Kelso last time but had gone close before that while Spock never figured over these fences having won at Worcester back in September. PRINCE OF DREAMS came good when returning a clear winner at Newbury last month and he gets the vote to defy a rise in the weights and go in again.
Massena (IRE) 4-7fav (11-0) Led, headed 2 out, 3rd and ridden before last, stayed on under pressure to take 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 8l behind Kelvingrove (10-2) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Kie (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Pressed leader when blundered badly and unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by Jet Master (11-10) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar, 7 ran.
Prince Of Dreams 7-2 (11-12) Soon steadied into 4th, went 2nd 5th, challenged 8th, led next, clear from 4 out, hit 2 out and last, ridden out, easily, won at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar beating Sands Cove (11-10) by 15l, 5 ran.
Qianshan Leader (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Led, mistake 11th, not fluent 13th, headed after next, well held before 3 out, 4th of 9, 24l behind On Trend (11-2) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Spock (FR) 14-1 (12-3) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, led 8th until 9th, lost place after 11th, well beaten before 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Shrewd Investment (11-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hts chs (6) gs in Mar.