tracked winner, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, edged left approaching last, stayed on same pace flat
took keen hold in 5th, went 3rd 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, beaten when jumped left 2 out, one pace
chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, hit 2 out
raced wide, made all, hit 8th, not fluent 9th, joined when not fluent 3 out, driven and stayed on gamely flat
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out
raced in last, ridden approaching 8th, weakened well before 3 out
Jimmy Frost's Captain Becket and Peter Bowen's Saintly Lady are both consistent performers and deserve to land this handicap hurdle but both are likely to again have to settle for minor honours behind SCOTSBROOK CLOUD, who is hard to oppose. The David Evans-trained gelding can race off the same mark as when successful in a conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle at Haydock last week and he can win his fourth race on the bounce. Jeremy Scott's Five Star Wilsham lost no caste in defeat when narrowly beaten over course and distance last week and rates a bigger threat racing off the same mark today than Victors Serenade, who has a penalty to carry for his win here on the same day.
Five Star Wilsham (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway 8th, challenged 3 out, led when not fluent next, hung left and headed flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Victors Serenade (11-2) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Victors Serenade (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, not fluent 1st, headway approaching 9th, challenged last, led flat, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft beating Five Star Wilsham (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Casual Garcia 14-1 (11-9) Led, hit 5th, ridden and headed after 7th, chased leader until weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Scotsbrook Cloud (10-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Kathleens Pride (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Tendency to jump left, made all, pressed 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon driven and edged left, stuck on gamely flat, won at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Mar beating Monsieur Cadou (11-2) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Scotsbrook Cloud 4-1fav (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, challenged on bit 2 out, soon led, driven out flat, won at Haydock 3m cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gd beating Rare Coincidence (11-5) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Captain Becket 2-1fav (10-8) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, soon no impression, left well beaten 4th last, stayed on to go 3rd flat, never troubled leading pair, 3rd of 6, 15l behind Kristoffersen (10-13) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Saintly Lady (IRE) 3-1fav (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway after 6th, challenged 3 out, soon led, headed approaching 2 out, no extra last, 2nd of 8, 11l behind Malindi Bay (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f mrs hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Oct.
