held up, raced wide off home turn, still going well before jumping big at 2 out, ridden on landing, quickly lost ground, denied eighth final strides
in rear, keen after 1st, ridden before 2 out, chased leaders after hitting last, lost sixth final stride
prominent, in a share of disputed second after 3rd flight, ridden before 2 out, outpaced before last, kept on one pace near finish
midfield, outpaced 3 out, rallied when ridden to chase leader after 2 out, good jump and every chance last, not pace of winner and unable to quicken near finish
made all, set steady pace until quickened on landing 2 out, mistake last, soon ridden, responded well and always doing enough when pressed near finish
prominent, in a share of disputed second after 3rd flight, pushed along before 2 out, lost third on landing after final flight, kept on one pace near finish
midfield, pushed along after 5th, dropped towards rear before 2 out, rallied for modest gains to take eight on the line
prominent, in a share of disputed second after 3rd flight, ridden after 3 out, gradually weakened, pulled up before last
midfield, outpaced when ridden before 2 out, just took sixth final stride
midfield, headway approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, took third on landing after final flight, ridden out for third
This is certainly no better than the first division. Hobb's Delight hasn’t been seen since fourth in a Worcester bumper in October 2021 but isn’t highly tried on hurdling debut. Odin's Quest has won a bumper but appears to be regressing over timber and was pulled up at Huntingdon last month when JACK SPRAT finished a well-beaten third. Ventara finished ahead of Gun Runner Cash here last time and looks the pick of the remainder.
Exmoor Lad 33-1 (11-2) In rear, mistake 2nd, headway approaching 7th, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 9th of 10, dist behind Matterhorn (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f (4) gd in Mar.
Gun Runner Cash (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Held up well in rear, took keen hold, some headway after 3 out, soon weakened, mistake 2 out, 6th of 9, dist behind Boom Boom (11-6) at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (4) gd in Apr.
Hobb's Delight 25-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 7f out, every chance over 2f out, 4th and held final furlong, 4th of 10, 7l behind Onethreefivenotout (11-0) at Worcester 2m (5) sft in Oct.
Jack Sprat (IRE) 66-1 (11-6) Mid-division pushed along and went third before 2 out when not fluent, no extra approaching last, 3rd of 9, 20 3/4l behind Milldam (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m mdn (4) sft in Mar.
Odin's Quest 4-1 (11-6) Took keen hold, mid-division, weakened quickly before 3 out, pulled up before next, at Huntingdon 2m mdn (4) sft in Mar.
Ventara 16-1 (11-5) Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 2 out, plugged on but no danger run-in, 5th of 11, 23 3/4l behind Brentford Hope (11-5) at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (4) gs in Mar.
Joyful Kit (IRE) 40-1 (10-2) Jumped right, chased leader until 3rd, not fluent 7th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off 3 out, pulled up after, at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Feb.
Miss Curiosity (IRE) 80-1 (10-9) Mid-division, pushed along and outpaced after 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up soon after, at Chepstow 2m hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Definite 80-1 (9-9) Held up in mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, no impression, 7th of 12, 8 1/4l behind Heathen (9-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Mar.
Energy Two 11-1 (10-2) Prominent, lost ground approaching halfway, dropped to rear and quickly detached after halfway, soon pulled up, at Warwick 2m (5) gd in Feb.
