held up, hampered 6th, went 2nd 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, no chance with winner
prominent until fell 6th
chased leader, left 2nd 6th, led 8th, clear 3 out, easily
led, carried badly left 7th, headed 8th, mistake 4 out, soon weakened
mid-division, left 3rd 6th, weakened 4 out
chasing leader until fell 6th
OISEAU DE NUIT won with any amount in hand when taking a Lingfield handicap on his reappearance last week so he is hard to oppose, even under a 7lb penalty for that success, and gets the vote ahead of Jigsaw Dancer and Prince du Seuil. The last mentioned was well beaten on his return and first start over fences at Ludlow last month but Alan King has his string in really good form right now and the likelihood is that there is a lot more to come from the five-year-old. Gary Moore's Space Cowboy has run some decent races in defeat over fences and should again be thereabouts on his return, while Farmer's Lad looks to be going the right way but is probably a shade high in the weights at present. Pauntley Gofa has an awful lot to do to trouble the judge and of more interest may be Andrew Turnell's Jigsaw Dancer, who showed progressive form over hurdles and now makes his debut over fences. Oiseau de Nuit has an obvious chance though judged by his success last week and is taken to give Philip Hobbs another winner.
Oiseau de Nuit (FR) 15-8fav (10-8) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, jumped left and led 3 out, soon clear, comfortable, won at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy beating Sole Agent (11-4) by 17l, 5 ran.
Prince du Seuil (FR) 3-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, headway approaching 10th, weakening when mistake 4 out, 5th of 10, well behind Shining Gale (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
Jigsaw Dancer (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) In touch, ridden 6th, stayed on one pace from 3 out, left 3rd last, kept on, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Or Bleu (11-8) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Farmer's Lad (IRE) 11-1 (11-8) Chased leader, disputed lead 5th, led 6th, ridden and headed 3 out, held when hampered last, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Oracle des Mottes (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft.
Space Cowboy (IRE) 7-2 (11-9) Left 4th 2nd, effort approaching 3 out, went 2nd and hung left approaching last, no extra flat, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Count Kristo (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Pauntley Gofa 200-1 (10-1) Hit 7th, always towards rear, lost touch 8th, 7th of 9, well behind Ashley Brook (10-4) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gs.
