tracked winner to 7th, in touch until weakened after 2 out, tailed off
tracked leaders on outer, slipped on landing 5th, lost place next, behind 7th, stayed on into modest 3rd after 2 out, no chance with clear pair
made all, went left 3rd (water), drew readily clear after last, unchallenged after, very easily
held up mainly in 4th, lost place 4 out, weakening when blundered and pulled up after next
held up towards rear, tracked leaders after 6th, went 2nd next, outpaced after last, no chance with easy winner after
held up behind, went remote 4th before last, no chance with leaders, tailed off
held up behind when fell 1st
Wells De Lune has won three times over fences but was pulled up in a hunter chase at Fontwell when last seen over the larger obstacles. However, he’s take a real shine to the hurdles course here recently and won easily again off the mark on Saturday when well ahead of Lough Kent. He is probably the one to beat if translating that form back to chasing but THEFLYINGPORTRAIT seems to be finding his form again and he’s now on a lower mark than when last successful in 2016. Applesandpierres is going chasing late in life and Ifandbutwhynot is already in the veteran stage and the Uttoxeter winner is 4lb higher than when well beaten over track and trip in May. Chirico Vallis was treading water in handicaps last season and Dark Invader also looks up against it on these terms.
Theflyingportrait (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, headway 3 out, effort and every chance on inside before last, ridden and readily outpaced by winner flat, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Vosne Romanee (11-12) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Chirico Vallis (FR) 3-1 (11-3) Tracked winner, jumped left at times, pushed along 4 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 3, 20l behind Tree Of Liberty (11-8) at Leicester 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Wells De Lune (FR) 3-1 (11-12) Made all, pushed clear run in, easily, won at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Aug beating Lough Kent (10-7) by 13l, 11 ran.
Applesandpierres (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, outpaced after 4 out, switched outside and rallied into 3rd 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression with front pair before last, 3rd of 4, 7 1/2l behind The Unit (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (3) gf in Aug.
Ifandbutwhynot (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) Chased leaders, hit 1st, went 2nd 3 out, led next, ridden out flat, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) gd in Jul beating Atlantic Storm (11-9) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Lough Kent 11-1 (10-7) Towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden next, stayed on one pace run in to go 2nd near finish, 2nd of 11, 13l behind Wells De Lune (11-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Aug.
Dark Invader (FR) 2-1fav (11-1) Mid-division, closed 6th, mistake 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 7, 25 1/2l behind Volvalien (11-9) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
