A competitive-looking staying handicap chase, as the market indicated, but appearances were deceptive as SONEVAFUSHI had no trouble in following up his victory at Newbury eight days earlier. He'd scored well over 3m there, and was officially 6lb ‘well in', although carrying 12st5lb over 3m3f is never easy. He seems to be heading in the right direction and it's not too fanciful to suggest that he could play a leading role in one of the Nationals this spring. He stays well, jumps well and is rising up the handicap.

Brave Spirit had won this contest off a 10lb lower mark a year earlier, but had a question mark against him after an unusually poor effort at Plumpton earlier this month. He put that behind him with a solid effort against a bang in-form rival.

Yardbird was one of the less exposed stayers in the line-up but one of the more in-form having scored at Wincanton last time (Jiver, Koquelitcot and Tom Sayers behind). He was inclined to hit one or two fences, but is obviously a stayer with a future and will benefit for this experience.

Even More's last time out effort at Exeter entitled him to every consideration off his relatively light weight but he was always being niggled and in the end finished behind Koquelicot and Naunton Brook

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