tracked leader, mistake 5th, almost upsides 8th, chased leaders when ridden 2 out, no extra flat
towards rear, not fluent 1st, headway into midfield 4 out, lost ground on leaders when ridden 3 out, one pace from 2 out
prominent, relegated to midfield 5th, ridden and towards rear before 4 out, faded 3 out
led, ridden and joined 3 out, headed before 2 out, ran on under pressure from last but could not reach winner
towards rear, ridden and outpaced 4 out, well beaten from 2 out
midfield, took closer order 6th, close up 4 out, upsides 3 out where not fluent, led 2 out, ridden before last, ran on flat
ESPRIT DU LARGE is a Grade 1 novice chase winner at Sandown. His jumping has let him down the last twice but he makes a quick reappearance after falling at Exeter last week and is clear of these at the weights. Whoshotthesheriff made a promising start on his chasing bow when third over these fences though it was good going on that occasion while Dali Mail won at Newcastle on his chasing debut but has struggled since. Ming Dynasty placed at Sedgefield on his reappearance and is preferred to Hexham winner Ain't My Fault on these terms while Kiltealy Briggs is weighted to figure if taking to the larger obstacles.
Esprit Du Large (FR) 13-2 (11-6) Mid-division, fell 8th, at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Dali Mail (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Hit 1st, held up behind, headway 4 out, driven to chase leaders after next, never on terms, weakened after 2 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Protek Des Flos (11-4) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Ain't My Fault (IRE) 10-3 (11-7) Prominent, close up 6th, ridden to lead before last, pulled clear run in, comfortably, won at Hexham 2m hcp (4) sft in Oct beating Cobaltic (11-4) by 5 1/2l, 10 ran.
Kiltealy Briggs (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Mid-division on outside, headway after 3 out, weakened after next, behind when pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Ming Dynasty (FR) 11-1 (11-3) Held up rear of mid-division, headway 12th, went 3rd before last, stayed on, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 9, 9 1/4l behind Mr Muldoon (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 3f (4) gd in Oct.
Whoshotthesheriff (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Mid-division, not much room after 8th, headway 3 out, close up last, stayed on flat, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Flegmatik (10-13) at Carlisle 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
