in touch in 4th, went 2nd from 6th, led before 3 out, headed last, kept on and held towards finish
led, headed before 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened from 4 out
tracked leader to 6th, in rear from 9th, tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
in rear, headway 6 out to go 3rd, went 2nd before 2 out, led last, held on well towards finish
Nicky Henderson has high hopes for VYTA DU ROC but is prepared to let him develop at his own speed. He was all out to hold off The Saint James, well beaten since, at Bangor but will almost certainly have taken a big step forward for that experience and should be capable of giving the weight away to Bouvreuil. Paul Nicholls' five-year-old was thrown in at the deep end on his chasing bow and found wanting but was a decent hurdler, albeit he only managed one win in 15 starts. Monbeg Theatre was also useful over the smaller obstacles but made an inauspicious start over fences at Exeter.
Vyta Du Roc (FR) 4-9fav (10-13) Led until after 3rd, led again next, hard driven when pressed from 2 out, strongly challenged after last, held on gamely, won at Bangor 2m 1f (4) hvy in Dec beating The Saint James (10-7) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Legal Exit (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, moderate 3rd 4 out, closer 3rd and ridden after 3 out, no impression in moderate 3rd when fell at last, at Fairyhouse 2m 1f Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Monbeg Theatre (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Chased leaders until blundered and unseated rider 2nd, at Exeter 2m 3f (2) hvy in Dec.
Overtheedge (IRE) 8-1 (12-2) Ld & disp, adv bef 2out, jnd last, no ex close home, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Cousin Bill (12-2) at Largy 3m in Apr.
Bouvreuil (FR) 14-1 (10-10) Took keen hold, held up last, outpaced when hit 9th, no chance after, 5th of 6, 31l behind Ar Mad (11-2) at Sandown 2m (1) gs in Dec.
