held up tracking leaders, dropped to rear after 3rd, headway on outside approaching 6th, ridden and weakened on long run before 3 out, behind and pulled up before next
tracked leading pair, 2nd 4th until 4 out, chased leading pair, outpaced before 2 out, rallied into 3rd again run-in
raced quite keenly, made all, went to outside rail approaching 3 out, kept narrow advantage when pressed 2 out, soon ridden and in command before the last
chased leaders, pushed along and weakened before 3 out
never going well in rear and reminder after 1st, ridden along on bend before 4th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up 2 out
chased winner until 4th, chased leading pair, 2nd again 4 out until pushed along before 3 out, dropped to 4th 3 out, ridden and one pace disputing held 3rd when went left 2 out, weakened run-in
held up tracking leaders, 2nd before 3 out, pushed along challenging and every chance 2 out, ridden between last 2, soon no extra
VIF ARGENT is now 2lb lower than when winning in this grade at Ffos Las last May. His long-term future will be over fences but he can land this now that the handicapper has relaxed his grip. Fourth Act is still a bit keen but he's performed respectably in a couple of runs at Fontwell this season and makes more appeal than fellow maiden Mountain Of Mourne. Hindon Road might have needed his latest third at Exeter and looks the pick of the remainder, though Be Bop Boru has been holding his own in decent company.
Be Bop Boru (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, 4th and one pace last, no extra flat, 6th of 10, 10l behind Rolling Maul (9-13) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Fourth Act (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Raced keenly, mid-division, in touch on outside 3rd, went 2nd after 5th, led 3 out, headed and one pace in 3rd when blundered next, no impression before last, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 9, 13l behind Remiluc (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) gs.
Vif Argent (FR) 12-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out, tailed off, last of 7, 41l behind Oscar Sunset (11-4) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Theunnamedsoldier 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division, steady headway on outside approaching 5th, driven before 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 14, 17l behind Cash Injection (10-10) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Jan.
Mountain Of Mourne (IRE) 13-2 (10-11) Led until 3rd, led next, headed 3 out, not fluent and stayed on same pace last, 4th of 16, 12l behind Sir Ivan (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs.
Spirit D'armor (FR) 14-1 (10-13) Raced wide, held up in rear, disputing poor 5th when stumbled badly 3 out, no chance after, pulled up before last, in a race won by Laughton Park (10-8) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs, 8 ran.
Hindon Road (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, went modest 3rd approaching 2 out, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 18, 20l behind Assam Black (11-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.