tracked leading pair, went 2nd 3 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
jumped well, tracked leader, led 6th, reached for 8th, joined briefly 4 out, clear and going well before next, ducked left briefly after 2 out, easily
led until 6th, chased winner, mistake 9th, brief challenge 4 out, no extra before next where dropped to 3rd, weakened into 4th run-in, tailed off
last, outpaced and struggling before 4 out, went remote 3rd run-in, tailed off
Withdrawn
Ashutor won easily at Stratford having only his second run over fences. Despite a penalty, he is 3lb better off than when beaten under a length by Beat The Judge on his chasing bow at Newton Abbot and entitled to turn the tables. Master Work won over course and distance back in October but was beaten off higher marks in four subsequent starts. MONSIEUR D’ARQUE left previous chase form behind when trouncing more experienced opposition at Market Rasen last month. That wasn’t much of a race but there should be plenty more to come from Dan Skelton’s six-year-old.
Master Work (FR) 9-2 (11-9) Held up, closed 3rd, ridden and beaten when bumped 2 out, no extra, 4th of 6, 22 1/4l behind Joke Dancer (11-9) at Warwick 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Ashutor (FR) 8-11fav (11-12) Jumped well, tracked leader and wide, led 2 out, came easily clear before the last, won at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Aug beating Atlantic Storm (10-13) by 13l, 4 ran.
Monsieur D'Arque (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Held up towards rear, closed 3rd, led before 2 out, clear approaching last, easily, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Jul beating Honourable Gent (11-7) by 8l, 9 ran.
I'dliketheoption (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Always behind, awkward 8th, pushed along and struggling before 4 out, never a factor, 9th of 10, 17 1/4l behind Defi Sacre (11-10) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Beat The Judge (IRE) 11-5fav (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd, challenged 9th led before 2 out, almost joined when not fluent last, kept on well run-in, won at Newton Abbot 2m (3) gd in Jul beating Ashutor (10-12) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
