last pair, hit 3rd, not fluent 9th, struggling 11th, behind next, soon pulled up
chased leaders, not fluent 7th, ridden 4 out, not fluent and went 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, stayed on
tracked leader, challenged 3 out, led before 2 out, drifted left last and flat, eased close home
chased leaders, lost place from 11th, behind when pulled up after 14th
last pair, slow over the early fences, mistake 7th, headway approaching 11th, weakened before 4 out
jumped left, led, ridden and headed before 2 out, 3rd and weakening last
NonRunner
The Mighty Don found plenty for pressure to mug ENRILO on the run-in at Chepstow but that was his seventh start over fences whereas the runner-up was making his debut over the larger obstacles and is 5lb better off. They finished well clear of Red River but the latter should also be better for the run. Darlac finished ahead of Present Value here last season but is starting to look exposed and it’s difficult to make a case for the other pair.
Bindon Lane 7-1 (10-6) Jumped right 1st, mid-division, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 5th of 10, dist behind Enry Iggins (11-12) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
Darlac (FR) 8-15fav (11-1) Close up and chased leader, travelled keenly, good jump and led 9th, mistake 3 out and headed, pushed along 2 out, hard-ridden last, held run-in, 2nd of 3, 4 1/2l behind Monbeg Theatre (11-8) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Enrilo (FR) 10-11fav (11-0) Bit keen, tracked leading pair, hit 9th, challenged in 2nd at 13th, led going well 5 out, hard ridden run-in, headed close home, 2nd of 4, nk behind The Mighty Don (11-0) at Chepstow 3m (3) gd in Oct.
Enry Iggins 8-1 (11-4) Led until before 2nd where slow, prominent, hit 4th, ridden after 6th, weakened after 3 out, 12th of 14, 36 1/4l behind Sermando (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Present Value (IRE) 5-2fav (10-8) Held up, headway chasing leaders 13th, close 2nd when blundered badly 4 out, not recover, fell heavily next, at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Red River (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Bit keen, pressed leader, led 8th until 11th, lost 2nd 13th, outpaced 5 out, modest 3rd from next, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 4, 31 1/4l behind The Mighty Don (11-0) at Chepstow 3m (3) gd in Oct.
The Mighty Don (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Jumped stickily early stages, held up in 4th place, outpaced 12th, rallied approaching 5 out, soon 2nd, pushed along before 3 out, not fluent next, driven and stayed on gamely run-in, led close home, won at Chepstow 3m (3) gd in Oct beating Enrilo (11-0) by nk, 4 ran.
