tracked leaders in 3rd, reminders before 7th, reminders before 9th, weakening when blundered 4 out, tailed off
tracked winner and keen, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten, lost 2nd place close home
made all, took keen hold, quickened clear before 2 out, eased heavily flat
in rear in 4th and in touch, went 3rd from 7th, outpaced from before 3 out, plugged on to take 2nd close home, no chance with winner
Mibleu absolutely hacked up over the C&D last month when gaining his sixth victory over fences but all of them have been achieved on very much quicker ground than he'll face here. MOULIN DE LA CROIX generally races over much further but he made all for a very easy success over 2m1f when sent over hurdles at Hexham and the testing ground will be in his favour so he gets the vote. Darceys Dancer hasn't shown much for a very long time though he's well handicapped if anywhere near his best but though both victories of Knapp Bridge Boy have come over today's C&D he's better on quicker going.
Darceys Dancer (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, mistake 2nd, not fluent 7th, ridden and soon well beaten, 12th of 13, well behind Spock (11-2) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in May.
Mibleu (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, headway to chase leaders when bumped 2nd, went 2nd travelling well before 2 out, led 2 out, soon clear, eased towards finish, won at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Sep beating Bennys Quest (10-13) by 11l, 7 ran.
Moulin de La Croix 7-1 (10-2) In touch, ridden 12th, behind next, pulled up before 14th, in a race won by Barel Of Laughs (10-7) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs (2) sft in Aug, 9 ran.
Knapp Bridge Boy 2-1 (11-4) Led until 7th, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, last of 4, 48l behind Blue Hills (11-6) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Jun.
