jumped left, held up, rapid headway to go prominent and bumped rival 7th, went 2nd before 10th until 16th, went 2nd again after 4 out, lost 2nd last, stayed on same pace flat
chased leader until before 10th, outpaced and lost place 15th, rallied to 3rd before 3 out (water), went 2nd last, strong run flat, led post
chased leaders, mistake 6th, bumped next, pulled up before 8th
ridden to lead, clear 4th, reduced lead and ridden 13th, clear again when hit 14th, blundered 16th, ridden and headed 4 out, lost place quickly before 3 out, poor 5th when pulled up before next
chased leaders until mistake and lost place 3rd, never going after, ridden and struggling 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 15th
held up towards rear, good headway to 3rd at 10th, ridden approaching 15th, went 2nd next, led 4 out, stayed on until no extra flat, headed post
not fluent 1st, chased leaders, ridden and outpaced in 5th at 14th, moderate 4th from after 3 out, tailed off
After 15 starts under Rules, How's My Friend remains a maiden and had every chance when favourite at Exeter last time. Kilvergan Boy has a poor strike-rate and his stable is struggling for winners at present while Local Present is a long way out of the handicap. FRESHER FISHING has to be of interest making his chasing bow in a weak handicap as he won twice over hurdles on fast ground in the autumn and has more scope than the majority of these. Royal Kicks won largely by default at Stratford two weeks ago but is only a pound higher here and can chase him home.
Royal Kicks (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 10th, mistake 12th, 1 length down when left 8 lengths clear 16th, jumped left from 2 out, reduced advantage approaching last, driven and forged clear flat, won at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Mar beating Pairc Na Gcapall (11-5) by 4 1/2l, 5 ran.
Double Chocolate 5-1 (11-7) Bucking after start, pulled up before 1st, in a race won by River D'or (11-5) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd, 7 ran.
How's My Friend 2-1fav (11-10) Held up, headway after 3rd, outpaced from 14th, never back on terms, stayed on from 3 out, went 4th after last, 4th of 8, 14l behind Thomas Wild (11-2) at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Fresher Fishing (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Led to 4th, soon lost place and behind, pulled up after 7th, in a race won by Tarvini (11-1) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
River Indus 100-1 (9-7) Tracked leader until not fluent 6th, lost place 8th, behind 11th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Triangular (11-9) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar, 12 ran.
Kilvergan Boy (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, went 2nd 3rd, led 6th until 8th, led 11th, headed approaching 14th, led 16th, driven flat, headed close home, 2nd of 6, nk behind Hobb's Dream (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Mar.
Local Present (IRE) 15-2 (9-11) Tracked leader until after 8th, not fluent next, outpaced after 4 out, no impression after, went 4th before last, 4th of 9, 20l behind Kap West (10-3) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
