raced out wide in 5th, outpaced after 12th, struggling in rear when hit next, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, 2nd going well 13th, led approaching 2 out, ridden clear between last two, stayed on strongly, eased towards finish
tracked leader, led 3rd, hit 13th, headed before hit 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
held up, closer tracking leaders before 13th, went 3rd 4 out, ridden and no impression before 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd after 7th (water), lost 2nd and hit 13th, chased leaders, pushed along before next, weakened 3 out, tailed off
raced keenly, held up in last pair, not fluent 7th (water), not fluent again 12th, hung left and plugged on in modest 4th from 3 out
led until hit 3rd and headed, lost 2nd after 7th (water), chased leaders, hit 9th, mistake and weakened 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
Flash Collonges was tailed off here on his fencing bow but against a couple of smart novices with more experience. Rapper has shaped with promise and Beatthebullet made a winning start over fences at Exeter. Grumpy Charley will have learned plenty from his run at Chepstow but Valleres needs to brush up his jumping and this may be too competitive for Sopran Thor. FERN HILL ran much better than expected when out of the handicap at Uttoxeter. He is effectively a pound lower here so can go one better, though a switch to fences will almost certainly suit the returning Patroclus.
Flash Collonges (FR) 6-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, not fluent 13th, slow jump and reminders 5 out, ridden and lost touch before 3 out, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 4, dist behind Ahoy Senor (11-3) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gs in Nov.
Grumpy Charley 9-1 (11-3) Towards rear, mistake 6th, pushed along 11th, tailed off home straight, last of 5, dist behind Tea Clipper (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 3f lst (1) gd in Oct.
Fern Hill (IRE) 18-1 (10-11) Chased leader, led before 3 out, headed 3 out, chased winner, ridden between last two, soon switched right, 1 length down at the last, stayed on gamely run-in, always just held, 2nd of 7, nk behind Come On Teddy (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Valleres (FR) 7-4jfav (11-8) Last pair on inside, pecked badly 1st, closed 8th, hit 11th, reminder after 15th, beaten 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 4, 21 3/4l behind Winds Of Fire (10-10) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Beatthebullet (IRE) 15-8 (11-5) Tracked leader, race more prominently after 10th, ridden 4 out, took lead 3 out, extended advantage before last, went away after last, won at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Gosheven (11-4) by 3l, 3 ran.
Sopran Thor (FR) 15-8fav (11-8) Held up, headway over 3 out, no further impression and weakened before last, 5th of 8, 24l behind Kap Auteuil (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Patroclus (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Raced keenly, soon steadied into mid-division, headway on outside after 3 out, weakened before next, tailing off when pulled up before last, at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Rapper 9-4 (11-8) Chased leader, asked for effort 3 out, not fluent 2 out, kept on same pace thereafter, 2nd of 3, 4l behind Jeremy Pass (11-1) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.