led 2nd, headed before 2 out, led again soon after 2 out, driven flat, headed towards finish
led 1st until 2nd, tracked leaders, lost place before 5th, remote 6th 3 out, hampered 2 out, rallied before last, switched right flat, stayed on well, led towards finish
held up towards rear, behind from 11th, badly hampered 3 out and pulled up
held up towards rear, hit 9th, headway 10th, ridden and disputing 3 lengths 3rd when fell 2 out
led until 1st, chased leaders, mistake and lost place 3rd, driven and well beaten from 11th, mistake and unseated rider 3 out
mid-division on outside, headway before 8th, outpaced 2 out, rallied last, every chance flat, held towards finish
held up in mid-division, headway 6th, led before 2 out, headed soon after 2 out, 4th and no extra towards finish
in rear, headway before 9th, weakened before 2 out
held up in touch, hit 9th and lost place, well behind 4 out, tailed off
Without a win over hurdles, KAUTO THE KING (NAP) looks likely to make a much better chaser having won easily at Wincanton on last week’s debut over fences. Colin Tizzard’s charge can shrug off the 7lb extra and go in again. Oscar Robertson is a likely improver back on soft going with a chasing bow at Huntingdon under his belt but Oscar Asche failed to complete on his first start in a chase. Holly James and Eclair Surf are novice hurdle winners worth a second glance but Oski has been off the track since 2017 having switched yards since winning over timber at Doncaster.
Eclair Surf (FR) 5-4fav (11-9) Settled in rear but in touch, headway 4 out, weakened next, modest 4th, 4th of 6, 35 1/2l behind Getaround (11-3) at Exeter 2m 7f (4) sft in Mar.
Oscar Robertson (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Led until blundered 12th, soon beaten, plugged on flat, 4th of 9, 15 1/4l behind Guy (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Holly James 16-1 (11-11) Jumped right, chased leaders, challenged 7th, led before 2 out, mistake and headed last, stayed on, 2nd of 19, 3/4l behind Lunar Baby (11-13) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Oski (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Made all, went right 4 out, came towards stands side rail turning in, ridden after next, stayed on well from last, won at Doncaster 3m (4) gd in Dec beating Don Lami (10-12) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.
Oscar Asche (IRE) 3-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, not fluent 14th, pushed along before 16th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Kauto The King (FR) 5-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 8th, tracked leader 13th, led 3 out, soon clear, eased run in, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Fairway Freddy (11-10) by 22l, 7 ran.
Cherokee Bill 7-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, ridden and no impression after 3 out, no extra early straight, pulled up before last, at Down Royal 3m hcp sft in Jan.
Faint Hope 7-1 (11-7) Prominent, pushed along after 4 out, soon lost place, pulled up, at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in May.
The Crooner (FR) 11-1 (11-7) Not fluent, chased leaders, lost place after 3rd, struggling 5th, soon behind, pulled up before next, at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
