tracked leaders to 4th, stayed handy, under pressure before 9th, not fluent and weakened next
held up last, reminders after 3rd, steady headway from 4 out, tracked leader next, challenged 2 out, led well before last and jumped right, kept on strongly run-in
fell 1st
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd 4th to 3 out, outpaced by leading pair before 2 out, no chance and mistake last
set good pace and clear after 2nd, strongly pressed 2 out, headed well before last and jumped right, hung right and no impression run-in
raced in 4th, pushed along after 4 out, weakened under pressure before next
We shall take Racing Demon to see off the challenge of the Nicholls pair Cerium and Hoo La Baloo, with Nyrche and Crossbow Creek adding spice to the contest. A terrific contest featuring some of the best young chasers seen out so far this term can see Racing Demon stamp his claims. Henrietta Knight's five-year-old may never be a replacement for Best Mate, but will be remembered for opening his account at Exeter on the same day that the triple Gold Cup winner met his fate at the west-country track. Second in last season's Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle, chasing was always going to be his game, and although two miles is arguably on the short side for him, the testing going will bring his stamina into play, especially up the hill. Nyrche tries to put matters right after his luckless run at Aintree where rider Wayne Hutchinson took the wrong course two out while seemingly going well in the lead. He may well have still beaten Cerium that day and meets the Nicholls runner on slightly better terms now. The latter's stablemate, the ex-French Hoo La Baloo, won in a common canter on his chase debut at Market Rasen and could be anything, although he is thrown in at the deep end here. Crossbow Creek was useful over hurdles and made an immediate impact over fences at Taunton, so can be regarded as one to follow as well, but conditions look ideal for Racing Demon and he can land this decent prize.
Nyrche (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Led, driven and clear approaching 2 out when pulled up 2 out in race won by Cerium (11-0) at Aintree 2m nov chs (B) gs in Nov, 5 ran.
Racing Demon (IRE) 9-4jt-fav (10-12) Held up, took closer order 6th, challenged 2 out, soon led, hung left and idled flat, ridden out, won at Exeter 2m 1f nov chs (C) gs in Nov beating Chilling Place (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Crossbow Creek 8-11fav (11-5) Pulled hard and held up in mid-division, headway 4 out, led after 3 out, shaken up 2 out, quickened clear last, impressively, won at Taunton 2m beg chs (D) gf in Nov beating Kings Brook (11-5) by 5l, 8 ran.
One Cornetto (IRE) 50-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, mistake 7th, weakened 4 out, 8th of 10, 17l behind Bold Bishop (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (B) gs in Nov.
Cerium (FR) 11-8fav (11-0) Tracked leader, driven 3 out, left in lead next, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Aintree 2m nov chs (B) gs in Nov beating Stance (11-9) by 5l, 5 ran.
Hoo La Baloo (FR) 11-8fav (10-5) Jumped well, made all and keen, left clear 3 out, left virtually alone 2 out, easily, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov chs (C) gd in Oct beating The Rising Moon (11-4) by a distance, 7 ran.
Iron Man (FR) 3-1 (11-2) Led, quickened 7th, ridden and headed when badly hampered and unseated rider 2 out in race won by Commercial Flyer (11-3) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) sft in Apr, 8 ran.
