prominent, went 2nd after 3rd, led 10th, headed 4 out, 3rd and beaten 2 out, demoted to 4th last
chased leaders, mistake and last 12th, rallied approaching 5 out, 4th when mistake and rider lost iron briefly 4 out, no extra next
tracked leader until after 3rd, not fluent 9th, mistake an lost place 13th, soon rallied, weakened approaching 5 out
held up in touch in 5th, reminders before 10th, improved after 13th, went 2nd 4 out, led next, soon driven, stayed on well flat
held up in 6th, headway on outside 9th, went 2nd 11th, led 4 out, ridden and headed next, stayed pressing winner, mistake 2 out, no extra towards finish
led, not fluent 5th, headed 10th, soon ridden, weakened after 13th, pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, headway on inside 13th, mistake 5 out, soon outpaced, stayed on dispute 3rd when bad mistake last, kept on flat, gaining on 2nd close home
Good ground and a much shorter trip is unlikely to bring out the best in veteran Victory Gunner, though his Folkestone win confirmed he is still in good form. Oscar Prairie fell at an early stage in a novices' event at Exeter last time and will need to jump better here to be competitive, but Priors Glen has always looked like a chaser in the making and can probably build on his third at Exeter in the autumn now the sun has come out again. Freeze Up is capable on his day and Silver Story returned to form with a second at Ffos Las but we'll give another chance to STRONGBOWS LEGEND, who was still travelling strongly when falling at Plumpton last month and remains unexposed over fences.
Priors Glen (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, chased winner 15th until approaching and jumped right 4 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Dover's Hill (11-2) at Exeter 3m beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
Silver Story 11-2 (11-10) Led, not fluent and headed briefly 3rd, pressed 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, every chance last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Ready Or Not (10-7) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Victory Gunner (IRE) 5-2fav (10-10) Took keen hold, chased leader, led 4th, narrowly headed 13th, chased leader until 10th ridden before 2 out, challenged last, edged left flat, stayed on to lead close home, won at Folkestone 3m 7f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft beating Noble Bily (10-8) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Oscar Prairie (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Towards rear, fell 7th, in a race won by Mr Bennett (10-12) at Exeter 3m nov chs 0-115 (4) gs, 12 ran.
Strongbows Legend 9-4fav (10-13) Keen prominent, led 5th, headed 11th, led again next, fell 4 out, in a race won by Deep Pockets (11-4) at Plumpton 3m 2f 5yo Am hcp 0-115 (4) sft in Feb, 7 ran.
Freeze Up (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) In touch, led after 1st, headed 8th, lost place 9th, soon behind, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Mr Big (11-4) at Warwick 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Troy Tempest (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up well in rear, some headway after 3 out, never on terms, 7th of 12, well behind Bunglasha Lady (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
