prominent, led 6th, pushed along and headed turning in, soon lost 2nd, chased leading pair, weakened and lost two places run in
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, pushed along and outpaced before home turn
held up in mid-division on inside, good headway chasing leaders before 3 out, went 2nd, led turning in, pushed along and strongly pressed from last, kept on gamely run-in
raced wide tracking leaders, every chance 3 out, ridden and outpaced before next, awkward last, stayed on run-in, no chance with leading duo
never closer than mid-division, pushed along and outpaced home turn, stayed on into modest 3rd run-in, no chance with leading duo
raced very wide, led, bad mistake 5th, chased leaders, weakened after next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
bit keen, off the pace and always towards rear, tailed off when mistake 2 out, pulled up before last
well in rear, never involved, tailed off
raced on inside, always prominent, went 2nd before 2 out, strong challenge from last, stayed on run-in, just held
raced very wide, chased leaders, hit 5th, ridden 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
BEAT THE BAT was beaten less than a length over today’s trip at Chepstow on his hurdling bow and looks worth sticking with. Bataillon has placed form over timber in France and debuts for new connections while both Ideal Des Bordes and Willsburg have form in bumpers. Welcom To Cartries beat a subsequent hurdles winner in an Irish point-to-point last year and has joined Paul Nicholls while Champagne Twist and Pep Talking are others debuting under Rules for new yards.
Ballyfinn (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Ww in rr, gd prog to 5th aftr 3out, rdn aftr 2out in 8l 5th, ko bef last to 4th, kow flat, nearest at fin, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Bective Abbey (11-11) at Tyrella 3m mdn gd in Jan.
Bataillon 6-1 (10-10) 2nd of 11, 6l behind Khazar Lises (11-0) at La Teste De Buch 2m 2f sft in Apr.
Beat The Bat (IRE) 9-4fav (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd soon after 2 out, ridden to lead run-in, soon hung right, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 16, 3/4l behind Masaccio (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (4) gs in Oct.
Champagne Twist (IRE) 5-1 (12-2) Mid-div, 5th 1/2way, prog to 2nd bef 2out, wo aftr 2out, gng best & 2l adv bef last where lft clr, kow flat, won at Quakerstown 3m mdn Yielding in Apr beating Bennettsbridge (12-2) by 12l, 9 ran.
Ideal Des Bordes (FR) 11-10fav (11-2) Raced keenly, led, quickened pace over 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Kintail (10-10) at Warwick 2m (5) gs in May.
Meetmeatthearch (IRE) 200-1 (11-5) Raced keenly in mid-division, weakened before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Newbury 2m 5f (4) sft in Mar.
Pep Talking 4-9fav (11-10) Made all; drew clr 3 out; unchall, won at Garthorpe 2m 4f mdn sft in Mar beating Horizon Dove (11-7) by 30l, 3 ran.
There's Claude 7-2 (12-0) Prom til outpcd 15, 3rd of 7, 30 1/4l behind Ultra Viers (12-0) at Garthorpe 3m mdn gs in Apr.
Welcom To Cartries (FR) 4-5 (11-11) Mid-div, 8th 1/2way, clsr 5th bef 5out, gd jmp to 2nd 3out, jnd ldr appr str, wo bef 2out, qknd clr & gd jmp last, easily, won at Borris House 3m mdn Yielding in Dec beating Ideal Du Tabert (11-6) by 16l, 13 ran.
Willsburg (IRE) 18-1 (11-5) Off the pace towards rear, some late minor headway on inside, never on terms, 6th of 15, 21 1/2l behind The Kemble Brewery (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m (2) gs in Oct.
Montys Soldier (IRE) 10-3 (11-4) Tracked leaders, pushed along 4f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 8, 12 3/4l behind The Jukebox Man (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m mdn (5) sft in Apr.
