close up in rear, good headway to go 2nd 8th, led next, 6 lengths clear 2 out, jumped left at last, all out
led, headed 4 out, chased winner, effort when not fluent last, driven and not quicken close home
tracked leader until ridden 8th, hit next and fell
tracked leaders until ridden and dropped to rear 8th, left 4th 4 out, outpaced and jumped right last 2
close up in 4th, left 3rd 4 out, outpaced 2 out, mistake last
MOVIE LEGEND is generally consistent over hurdles and fences and gained a deserved victory in a handicap chase at Market Rasen in April. He made a pleasing reappearance at Exeter last month and can kick on from here. Winning point-to-pointer and hurdler Bach De Clermont made too many mistakes on his chasing bow at Kempton last month but will have gained plenty from the experience and should get into the frame. Mercian King is much more experienced than most of these having already won three times over fences including over the course and distance a year ago. He's 14lb higher now but it will be a surprise if he doesn't get into in contention. The veteran Chestnut Ben had been out of form before a much better run at Musselburgh and is well enough handicapped though was engaged to run at Leicester yesterday.
Movie Legend 8-1 (11-8) Towards rear, headway from 3 out, went 3rd before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 14 1/4l behind Exitas (11-3) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Bach De Clermont (FR) 5-1jfav (11-8) Tracked leader, led briefly 5th, mistake 4 out, mistake 3 out, soon outpaced, 4th of 11, 16 1/2l behind Exitas (11-3) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Mercian King (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Prominent, mistake 7th and 8th, struggling 3 out, went modest 3rd after last, 3rd of 9, 21 3/4l behind Deauville Dancer (11-12) at Fakenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Land League (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Always towards rear, 6th of 11, 17 1/2l behind Exitas (11-3) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Brother Bennett (FR) 4-1 (11-5) In rear, outpaced from before 5 out, plugged on and never dangerous, 4th of 6, dist behind Flashman (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp (5) gf in Mar.
Chestnut Ben (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, mistake 6th, tracked leaders before 4 out, ridden after next, rallied and close up on inside last, one pace in 3rd flat, 3rd of 8, 3 1/4l behind John Williams (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
