held up in touch, headway into 2nd before 4 out, one pace and no chance with winner from next, lost moderate 2nd at last
tracked leader, led after 5 out, drew clear from 3 out, very easily
with leader, led 2nd, headed after 5 out, weakened next, tailed off
chased leaders, dropped to rear after 4th, in touch 6th, driven to chase leading pair before 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on to take moderate 2nd at last, no chance with easy winner
led to 2nd, in touch, lost place and reminders after 7th, behind from 5 out, went remote 4th after 3 out, no chance with leaders
Val D'Arc is unlikely to fail through lack of fitness despite making his UK debut after a seven-month absence. Witness In Court may be on the way back but has a bit to find with Oyster Shell on Ascot running. Kitegen is only 3lb higher than when scoring over this trip at Kempton but there may be more to come from UN BON P'TIT GARS now that the ground has dried out and Barry Geraghty is an eye-catching jockey booking.
Oyster Shell 10-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, never on terms, 5th of 11, 9l behind Manyriverstocross (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f nov chs (2) gd in Mar.
Witness In Court (IRE) 15-8 (11-5) Led until 2nd, chased leader, led again 6th, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Bellenos (11-5) at Stratford 2m 1f nov chs (4) gd.
Val D'arc (FR) (10-7) won at Craon(FR) 2m 2f 4yo chs gs in Sep beating Vicking Maker (10-12) by 15l, 7 ran.
Kitegen (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, hard ridden to challenge 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 5, 8l behind Benefit Cut (11-4) at Ascot 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Mar.
Un Bon P'tit Gars (FR) 9-2 (11-5) Chased leaders, pushed along before 10th, left modest 3rd and mistake 2 out, mistake and dropped to 4th at the last, lost poor 4th run in, 5th of 8, 33l behind Headly's Bridge (11-2) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) hvy in Mar.
