Poquelin made all, clear from 3 out, easily

Popcorn Rosie took keen hold, always chasing winner, beaten when hit 2 out, mistake last

Croft held up and behind, not fluent 4th (water), stayed on to take modest 3rd approaching 2 out, never dangerous

Do The Locomotion held up, mistake 3rd, soon behind, no chance when mistake 3 out (water)

Tupac Amaru held up, short-lived effort and went moderate 4th 4 out, no extra

Etendard Indien behind, jumped slowly 1st and 2nd, headway 8th, went modest 3rd 9th, weakened approaching 2 out

Wheelavit chased leaders, weakened 8th, jumped slowly 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out

A one horse-show for this novice chase with POQUELIN, who only had to stand up on his first try over fences to collect as he was far superior to any of his rivals over hurdles and had signed off last season with a victory in a decent hurdle at Sandown. He looks a smart recruit to this game as he jumped with alacrity and was always going well to win hard held. There are quite a few openings for him in the coming weeks on this type of ground as he patently does not handle soft in the winter and he is the type who can rack up a sequence.

Croft had been beaten in selling company last time and was, not surprisingly unable to land a blow and is flattered by this placing.

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