tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, ridden and headway to chase clear winner 2 out, driven and ran on to close on winner close home
in touch, hit 6th, headway 4 out, ridden next, kept on same pace
close up, ridden to chase winner 4 out, weakened approaching next
tracked winner until pushed along 4 out, soon weakened
made all, clear 3 out, steadied into last, soon edged right, driven and all out
raced wide, close up, mistake 13th, slow and lost touch next, ridden 15th, weakened 5 out
in rear, slow 10th, not fluent next, pushed along 13th, ridden and weakened 5 out, pulled up next
A winner twice between the flags and once over hurdles, Pennyforapound ran his best race so far over fences when third at Taunton but still has ground to make up on runner-up Velasco. Aki Bomaye has placed in both chase starts so can’t be ignored but POPPA POUTINE (NAP) has been highly tried in his two runs over fences so far at Exeter. He clearly didn’t stay an extended 3m6f last time and is 3lb lower in this less competitive affair with the talented Jordan Nailor taking off a further 3lb.
Poppa Poutine (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Mid-division on inside, closed 14th, not fluent 15th, ridden after 17th, soon weakened, 8th of 17, dist behind Gwencily Berbas (11-11) at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Velasco (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Held up off the pace towards rear, pecked badly 3rd, headway on inside chasing leaders 12th, switched left going well before 3 out, went 2nd soon after 3 out, every chance when hit last, held when switched left run-in, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Bangers And Cash (11-6) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Pennyforapound (IRE) 28-1 (11-6) Jumped left and wandered into some fences, led, headed 3 out, soon lost 2nd, no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Bangers And Cash (11-6) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Aki Bomaye (IRE) 11-4fav (11-13) Disputed lead early, tracked leader after 2nd, challenged over 2 out, outpaced in 3rd after last, kept on until no extra and dropped to 5th final strides, 5th of 8, 3 1/4l behind Lord Sparky (11-3) at Huntingdon 3m hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Eragon De Chanay (FR) 18-1 (10-3) Always towards rear, tailed off 15th, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, never on terms, 5th of 15, 15 1/2l behind Go Whatever (10-4) at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Vaziani (FR) 12-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, weakened before next, 8th of 11, 12 1/4l behind Tip Top Cat (11-2) at Taunton 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Pour Une Raison (FR) 25-1 (10-9) Prominent, ridden and outpaced at 2 out, weakened after last hurdle, last of 6, dist behind In Rem (11-7) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
