mistake 1st, mid-division, dropped towards rear after 7th, some headway under pressure 4 out, well beaten 5th when sprawled 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
not much room 1st, towards rear, struggling when hampered 11th, never near leaders
tracked leaders, pushed along when fell 11th
held up in rear, headway under pressure after 4 out, 5th when mistake next, soon beaten
chased leaders, outpaced in 4th 3 out, plugged on to take moderate 3rd after last, no chance with front pair
mid-division, mistake 9th, headway to track leading pair before 4 out, led before 2 out, clear last, ridden out flat
chased leaders, reminder s 8th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out
in touch on outside, not fluent and lost place 7th, behind from next, pulled up 11th
tracked leader, led after 3rd, mistake 9th, headed 11th, lost place next, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 2 out
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened pulled up next
mid-division on inside, lost place after 9th, behind from next, pulled up 11th
tracked leaders, went 2nd 12th, ridden to challenge before 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner in clear 2nd before last
led to after 3rd, tracked leader, led again 11th, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon weakened, lost moderate 3rd after last
RAJDHANI EXPRESS has been raised 13lb for his facile victory at Kempton but looks capable of going higher than his 142 rating over fences and is taken to concede weight with Sam Waley-Cohen's claim a major bonus. Gullinbursti appeared to be undone by the heavy conditions at Exeter and wouldn't want it any softer but Malcolm Jefferson loves his trips to Cheltenham and the tough Mcmurrough should go well. Johns Spirit made early mistakes before staying on strongly at Sandown and has to be of interest with a better round while Ballygarvey was so impressive on only his second start over fences at Lingfield that he enters the equation.
Rajdhani Express 3-1fav (11-6) Tracked leading paair, left 2nd at 12th, led on bit before 3 out, soon clear, comfortably, won at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec beating Milarrow (11-1) by 34l, 8 ran.
Ackertac (IRE) 7-1 (10-2) Close up on inside, lost place and dropped rear at 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Wyck Hill (10-0) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) hvy in Dec, 6 ran.
Gullinbursti (IRE) 7-4 (10-13) Pressed winnner, narrow lead 12th until before 4 out, stayed upsides and every chance until driven after 2 out, tried to rally last, no extra and held final 100 yards, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Hawkes Point (10-13) at Exeter 3m nov chs (3) hvy.
Johns Spirit (IRE) 6-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear and not fluent in early stages, steady headway to chase leaders 15th, went 5 lengths 2nd approaching 2 out, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 11, 9l behind Katenko (10-6) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) sft.
Battle Group 33-1 (11-7) Mainly always towards rear, well behind 9th, 11th of 18, 36l behind Ely Brown (11-0) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft.
Vino Griego (FR) 5-1 (10-12) Led, ridden before 2 out, headed before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Salden Licht (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 1f nov chs (3) sft.
McMurrough (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led 2 out, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec beating Whats Up Woody (11-3) by 1l, 7 ran.
Sizing Santiago (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, challenged 13th, every chance before 3 out, no impression on winner next, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Mister Hyde (10-13) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) hvy in Dec.
Ballygarvey (FR) 9-4 (11-2) Took keen hold early, chased leading pair, went 2nd at 2nd, led 3rd, clear when hit 6th, kept on strongly from 3 out, eased towards finish, won at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy beating Good Order (11-3) by 11l, 6 ran.
Theatrical Star 6-1 (11-0) Led, joined 4 out, kept slight advantage, driven before last, headed and no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Buddy Bolero (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f beg chase (4) hvy.
Bennys Mist (IRE) 5-4fav (11-11) Took keen hold, made all, jumped left at times, clear after 2nd, hit 3 out, clambered over last, all out, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft beating Kellystown Lad (10-12) by 22l, 6 ran.
Renard D'irlande (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Mid-division, outpaced before 11th, headway before 3 out, left 4th last, one pace, 4th of 12, 13l behind Wiesentraum (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 3f beg chs (3) gs in Dec.
Sew On Target (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Led, pressed 3 out, headed 2 out, led last, held on well, ridden out, won at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy beating Saved By John (11-12) by 1l, 7 ran.
