in rear, headway before 4 out, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, kept on well towards finish
led until mistake and headed 6th, weakened from 5 out
in touch in 5th, went 2nd before 4 out, weakened from 3 out
tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd after 4th, blundered 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders in 3rd, led 6th, jumped right 4 out, headed 2 out, no extra and lost 2nd place towards finish
close up, every chance 2 out, kept on to take 2nd towards finish, always held
De Boitron went very close at this track in May but over 3m and stablemate Stagecoach Pearl makes more appeal. The latter found only one too good over track and trip on his reappearance and has been dropped 2lb since. It was the same story for IMJOEKING here three weeks ago when Mwaleshi beat him home, but that was the former's first start since April and Lucinda Russell's charge can come out best today. Rouge Et Blanc was still beaten a long way when runner-up at Exeter last month and Claragh Native is preferred despite an 8lb rise for winning at Musselburgh last week.
De Boitron (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, 6th of 13, 18l behind Problema Tic (10-12) at Perth 3m hcp chs (2) gf in Jun.
Stagecoach Pearl 11-1 (11-7) Led, ridden before 9th, headed 5 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 49l behind Silver Roque (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Nov.
Imjoeking (IRE) 11-4 (10-7) Tracked leaders and keen, went 2nd after 4th, led 4 out, clear before last, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Mwaleshi (10-9) at Wetherby 2m nov chs (4) gs in Nov.
Tour D'Argent (FR) 9-1 (11-2) Led, headed briefly 5 out, ridden and headed 3 out, one pace, 4th of 7, 9l behind Pendra (11-2) at Carlisle 2m beg chs (4) gs in Oct.
Rouge Et Blanc (FR) 20-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway 6th, chased leaders 4 out, left in modest 2nd 2 out, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 8, 19l behind Oscar Hill (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Claragh Native (IRE) 20-1 (10-4) Tracked leader, slightly outpaced in 4th before 4 out, driven to challenge next, led 2 out, 2 lengths clear when went right last, stayed on well flat, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov beating Endeavor (9-10) by 6l, 7 ran.
