tracked leaders, dropped to 4th after 8th, went 2nd 10th, led briefly 12th, led before 3 out, narrowly headed next, ridden between last 2, stayed on same pace run-in
tracked leader, mistake 5th, awkward and lost 2nd 10th, pushed along and weakened before 4 out
led, hit 12th and headed briefly, pushed along and joined 4 out, headed before 3 out, soon dropped to 3rd and weakened
raced bit wide, tracked leaders, closer in 3rd after 8th, 2nd approaching 3 out, led and hit 2 out, went left last, kept on strongly to go clear run-in
Though a Grade 2 winner over hurdles, Redford Road hasn’t looked a natural so far over fences while Royale Pagaille has finished last in both starts for new connections, though was placed in a Listed chase in France under similar conditions. DOC PENFRO has few miles on the clock and, though clear second-best behind the much-vaunted The Big Breakaway on his fencing bow at Cheltenham, showed enough to go one better here receiving 5lb from Huntingdon scorer Espoir De Romay.
Espoir De Romay (FR) 8-11fav (11-2) Tracked leader, led 5th until next, led again 8th, awkward 13th, 2 lengths ahead when mistake last, ridden and stayed on well run-in, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f (3) gd in Nov beating Senior Citizen (11-12) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Doc Penfro 12-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 14th, shaken up before 2 out, no impression on winner flat, 2nd of 5, 10l behind The Big Breakaway (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m (2) sft in Nov.
Redford Road 13-2 (12-1) Mid-division out wide, awkward 2nd, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened soon after, 8th of 11, 22 3/4l behind Morning Vicar (11-7) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Royale Pagaille (FR) 11-4 (11-2) Kept bit wide, tracked winner, left in lead 15th, headed and weakened quickly 2 out, last of 3, 19 1/4l behind Equus Secretus (11-2) at Huntingdon 3m (4) hvy in Mar.
