led 3rd until 8th, outpaced after 11th, stayed on from 4 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
held up, headway 9th, ridden and every chance after 11th, held from 4 out, lost 2nd flat
chased leaders until weakened after 10th, tailed off
tracked leaders, led 8th, in command from 4 out, comfortably
tracked leaders, mistake and hampered 10th and lost place, ridden and headway 4 out, weakened after 2 out
led until 3rd, chased leaders, struggling 10th, kept on same pace from 4 out
held up behind leaders, disputing close 2nd when fell 10th
President Royal, Le Burf and Magot de Grugy look the main protagonists in this novices chase and the vote is given to President Royal. The selection was a fair fourth in a hurdle race behind Oh Crick last time out. He looks sure to improve for this longer trip and switch to fences and with his yard now in much better form he is hard to oppose. Le Burf rates the main danger on his latest second behind Majorca but he has had plenty of chances and again looks vulnerable. Magot de Grugy was a fair fifth behind Josear last time and is another with place claims with the return to this longer trip sure to suit. Forager may need the run after a 354 day break while Whatcanisay's best form is with more cut in the ground and for the winner we return to President Royal who is taken to put his weight for age allowances to good use.
Cava Bien 33-1 (10-7) Lost touch at 8th, tailed off, 5th of 8, 44l behind Gold Medallist (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (3) gd in Feb.
Deep Quest 50-1 (11-0) Led to 3rd, chased leader, weakened 12th, left poor 4th 3 out, 4th of 10, well behind Crystal d'Ainay (11-7) at Exeter 2m 7f Grad Ch (2) gs in Feb.
Forager 9-4 (11-3) Chased leader until 15th, ridden and weakened next, 4th of 9, 11l behind Hibernian (11-3) at Fakenham 3m beg chs (4) gd.
Le Burf (FR) 5-2 (11-0) Chased leader, led approaching 3 out, headed after last, one pace, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Majorca (11-0) at Leicester 2m nov chs (4) gs in Feb.
Magot de Grugy (FR) 9-4fav (11-8) Mid-division, headway approaching 5th, pushed along from next, weakened approaching 4 out, 5th of 7, 26l behind Josear (10-8) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Montrolin 80-1 (10-12) Stumbled badly and unseated rider in race won by Classic Fiddle (10-11) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (3) gs in Feb, 9 ran.
Whatcanisay 5-1 (10-1) Held up, headway 8th, ridden approaching 4 out, went right 2 out, one pace, 4th of 7, 19l behind Pavillon Bleu (10-11) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Feb.
President Royal (FR) 14-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, ridden & every chance approaching last, kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 6l behind Oh Crick (11-5) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
