held up in 5th, smooth headway approaching 3 out, challenged next, led between last 2, joined and blundered last, narrowly headed soon after, rallied gamely to lead again last strides
held up in touch, headway approaching 4 out, chased leading pair before next, chased winner before and upsides last, led narrowly soon after, stayed on until caught last strides
jumped right, chased leader, led before 2nd until 4th, chased leader, led again and bumped 7th, pecked 4 out, ridden and headed between last 2, weakened and went right last
mistakes, led until before 2nd, led again after 4th, narrowly headed 7th, chased leader, blundered 8th and next, challenged 4 out, still every chance 2 out, blundered and weakened last
not jump well, in touch, blundered 8th and next, ridden in modest 6th after 4 out, well beaten when blundered last
blundered 2nd, always in rear, ridden and struggling 8th, tailed off
Piment D'Estruval wasn't disgraced on his debut over fences when fourth to Ours at Hereford. He has to defy top weight here but, with normal improvement, is entitled to be thereabouts. Floradora Do carried overweight when runner-up to Laneguy at Taunton last week and is another to consider but Paddy The Yank has been well beaten in two runs under Rules and Quicolai also has little to recommend him. MENEUR has now had five starts over fences without troubling the judge but has been taking on markedly stiffer opposition and surely has the ability to land this moderate heat if putting his best foot forward.
Piment D'estruval (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Held up, took keen hold, headway 4th, hit 6th, 4th and weakening when mistake last, 4th of 6, 11l behind Ours (11-9) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Feb.
Meneur (FR) 8-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, disputing 2nd 9th, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 7, 23l behind Valley View (11-1) at Folkestone 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Feb.
Quicolai (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Prominent, led 8th, blundered badly 11th, weakened after 2 out, 3rd when pulled up before last, in a race won by Havenstone (10-11) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Feb, 7 ran.
Paddy The Yank (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Led until approaching 2nd, chased winner until hit 6th, outpaced and no chance with leading duo from 8th, tailed off, 3rd of 5, 42l behind Pascha Bere (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 1f beg chase (4) hvy in Feb.
Anyauldiron (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Took keen hold in rear, some headway when not fluent 7th, no impression, well beaten before 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 18, well behind Radetsky March (11-11) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Ede's 9-2 (10-10) Tracked leaders, strong reminders after 6th, under pressure when hit 4 out, soon weakened tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by She's Humble (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan, 6 ran.
Floradorado 16-1 (10-2) Held up well in rear, ridden in modest 6th 4 out, headway 3 out, went 3rd next, blundered last, stayed on to 2nd last strides, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Laneguy (11-0) at Taunton 2m 5yo nov hcp (4) gs.
