tracked leader until after 2nd, pushed along before 6th, led approaching 3 out, ridden when bad mistake 2 out, edged left approaching last, driven out
held up in 4th, hit 5th, not fluent 7th, closed 4 out, challenging when jumped left and not fluent 3 out or 2 out, mistake last, hung left flat, stayed on towards finish
took keen hold, tracked leaders, went 2nd after 2nd, hit 5th, 4th and beaten after 4 out, no impression after, stayed on flat
led, bad mistake 8th, headed approaching 3 out, rallying and about 1 length down when blundered badly last, not recover
Funny Star did well to hold off Ericht at Doncaster last month but faces no easy task here conceding weight to his three rivals. WORKBENCH was very impressive in making all to beat more experienced rivals here two weeks ago. He never looked like being caught and a similar effort today would probably suffice. Sands Cove still had every chance when falling two out at Exeter and will be winning soon while Cape Dutch was a very useful hurdler and is feasibly handicapped if fully wound-up after a lengthy break.
Funny Star 13-8fav (11-1) Tracked leader, challenged 7th, led next, headed 9th, led again 10th, ridden flat, always holding on, won at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (4) gd in Nov beating Ericht (11-1) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Cape Dutch (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Led, headed 2nd, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened last, 6th of 21, 19l behind Attaglance (11-12) at Aintree 2m 4f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr '12.
Sands Cove (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Pulled hard in touch, headway 4 out, chasing winner when fell 2 out, in a race won by Oscar Hill (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov, 8 ran.
Workbench (FR) 10-1 (10-9) Made all, clear from before 2 out, easily, won at Taunton 2m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov beating Be All Man (11-4) by 8l, 7 ran.
