led until 1st, led 3rd, not fluent and strongly pressed from 3 out, driven flat, headed close home
chased leaders, not much briefly on inside after 9th, lost place 3 out, well held next
led 1st, headed 3rd, stayed prominent, ridden after 9th, lost 2nd 3 out, no impression on leaders next
not always fluent, held up towards rear, ridden after 9th, well held from 3 out
mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway after next, challenged 3 out, driven flat, stayed on, led close home
held up towards rear on outside, jumped right 6th, pushed along briefly before next, closed 8th, losing place 3 out, mistake next
chased leaders, lost place 8th, not fluent next, effort 3 out, one pace next, lost 3rd and weakening before last
held up in rear, headway 3 out, went 3rd before last, stayed on, no impression on front pair
As expected, a step up in trip at Exeter suited THOMAS PATRICK and he comfortably made all. He has a penalty here but his yard is in excellent form and Sean Houlihan can claim 5lb so he’ll be hard to beat. Chicoria ran well on heavy going at Ayr on his reappearance so is a danger. Achill Road Boy has been chasing but beat a dual subsequent winner on his last start over hurdles in March while Un Guet Apens scored over fences at Carlisle last month and reverts to hurdles on a pound lower mark. Pop Rockstar has finished second on a couple of occasions but tries a new trip here.
Thomas Patrick (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Made all, 2 lengths ahead last, ridden out, unchallenged, won at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Eddy (11-0) by 4l, 10 ran.
Un Guet Apens (FR) 11-1 (11-12) Prominent, challenged when hit last, ridden run-in, kept on to lead close home, won at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Brother Scott (10-4) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Ceann Sibheal (IRE) 10-3 (11-10) Not fluent, chased leaders, mistake and last 6th, struggling and getting detached when jumped left 5 out, pulled up after, at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Chicoria (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Held up, mistake 3rd, headway when hampered 4 out, left 3rd at the last, kept on into 2nd in closing stages, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Too Many Chiefs (11-2) at Ayr 3m hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Pop Rockstar (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden 3 out, went 2nd next, no impression on winner from last, just held onto 2nd, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Arthur's Gift (11-6) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Sam Noir 11-2 (11-2) Tracked leader until 8th, soon weakened, tailed off, 11th of 12, dist behind Tempuran (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Achill Road Boy (IRE) 11-2 (10-9) Mid-division, towards rear from halfway, outpaced before 5 out, went 3rd before 2 out, kept on to take 3rd place towards finish, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Un Guet Apens (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Letemgo (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Towards rear, pushed along after 2 out, some headway, never a factor, 5th of 12, 17 1/4l behind On A Promise (11-6) at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
