a little reluctant to jump off, not always fluent, soon chasing leaders, went 2nd after 2 out, jumped path 110 yards out, edged left and led final 75 yards, ridden out
led, jumped left 2nd, hung left on bend soon after, not fluent 3rd, landed awkwardly last, soon edged left, headed final 75 yards, stayed on
held up in mid-division, not fluent 3rd, weakened 2 out
chased leader until after 2 out, weakened before last
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, weakened after 2 out
held up in mid-division, struggling after 4th, well beaten 3 out
mid-division, not fluent 4th, headway before next, went 3rd final bend, no impression on front pair
chased leaders, ridden and lost place after 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, stumbled badly 2nd, mistake 3 out, passed some rivals latter stages but no chance
BENSON dropped into maiden company over track and trip on his return to action and duly landed the odds. That was his first outing after wind surgery and with improvement expected here, he can defy a penalty in this moderate company. Franco D'aunou placed over timber in France last year and debuts for new connections while Irish point-to-point winner A Distant Place will be sharper for last month’s outing at Newton Abbot but may do better when tackling longer trips. Grey Flint ran well in the latter race but unseated when his saddle slipped at the last while Just The Man won three times on the Flat for Clive Cox and debuts over hurdles.
Benson 4-6fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, pulled hard, mistake 3 out, smooth headway into contention 2 out, disputing 2nd last, shaken up run-in, led final 110 yards, won at Hereford 2m mdn (4) gf in Oct beating Caddyhill (11-5) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
A Distant Place (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Towards rear, jumped badly left 3rd, not clear run after 3 out, bumped 2 out, not fluent last, ran on flat, eye catching effort, 4th of 9, 15 3/4l behind Press Your Luck (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (4) gs in Oct.
Conundrum 100-1 (10-12) Prominent, hit 3rd, ridden and lost place after 2 out, no extra, 5th of 12, 25 1/4l behind On The Wild Side (11-5) at Hexham 2m (4) sft in Oct.
Franco D'Aunou (FR) (10-0) 2nd of 12, 6l behind Floueur (10-7) at Nantes 2m 1f hvy in Oct.
Grey Flint 50-1 (10-12) Mid-division, closed 4 out, went 3rd before 2 out, held when saddle slipped between last 2, unseated rider last, at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (4) gs in Oct.
Joseph Hobson (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Towards rear, struggling after 3 out, well beaten when mistake next, 7th of 11, 21 1/4l behind The Dancing Poet (10-4) at Catterick 2m (4) gs in Jan.
Just The Man (FR) 13-2 (9-12) Held up, driven over 2f out, stayed on final 100 yards, not reach leaders, 5th of 7, 2 3/4l behind Clem A (9-3) at Bath 1m 2f hcp (3) fm in Aug.
Paddy The Champ (IRE) 40-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in moderate 8th over 2f out, no impression, 8th of 12, 31 3/4l behind Jesse Evans (11-9) at Listowel 2m gd in Sep.
River Llynfi (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden and detached 5th, never a factor, 9th of 10, 35 3/4l behind Sei Bella (10-5) at Exeter 2m 3f (4) gf in Oct.
Thinque Tank 50-1 (11-0) Midfield, ridden after 3 out, mistake 2 out, weakened flat, 10th of 13, 33 1/4l behind Pisgah Pike (11-7) at Plumpton 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Coachella Green (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Raced wide, led until 2nd, chased leader until before 5th, lost place after next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Fontwell 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
