took keen hold, held up, headway to chase leader before 2nd, led soon after hurdle, ridden and headed before last, weakened flat
held up, closed 3 out, challenged going well off home bend, led last, shaken up to assert flat, readily
held up in rear, headway and in touch when mistake 2 out, ridden before last, soon beaten, went left at hurdle, weakened flat
2nd until before 2nd, chased leaders, ridden approaching last, stayed on one pace, no chance with front pair flat
led, attempted to jump path crossing before 2nd, headed after hurdle, chased leader after, led after home bend, not fluent and headed last, not pace of winner flat but stayed on for clear 2nd
Domperignon Du Lys made an impressive UK debut at Newcastle, always travelling well and pulling clear in the closing stages. He’s likely to give DEFI DU SEUIL plenty to think about but Philip Hobbs’ charge, another French import, has to be the selection after winning a Grade 2 on the bridle here last month when looking a natural jumper. Coeur de Lion made a winning start at Wetherby but has a lot more on his plate this afternoon, though is still preferred to the exposed Nachi Falls and Candy Burg, who has his first run for Venetia Williams.
Candy Burg (FR) (8-13) 6th of 7, 4 1/4l behind Cadienne (9-1) at Salon-De-Provence 1m 1f stks sft in Sep.
Defi Du Seuil (FR) 5-4fav (10-12) Mid-division, steady headway 4 out, soon tracked front pair, challenged 2 out, came towards stands side rail and led approaching last, drew clear on bit flat, unextended, won at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Nov beating Diable De Sivola (11-2) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Domperignon Du Lys (FR) 10-11fav (10-12) In rear and in touch, soon tracked leaders, led 2 out, clear before last, kept on well, won at Newcastle 2m (2) sft in Nov beating Nietzsche (10-12) by 8l, 5 ran.
Nachi Falls 9-4 (10-9) Reluctantly led, set slow pace, quickened 3 out, headed next, soon ridden and no extra, weakening when eased before last, last of 4, dist behind Verni (11-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Coeur de Lion 9-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along 6th, challenged 3 out until after next, 1 1/2 lengths down flat, rallied towards finish, led close home, won at Wetherby 2m mdn (5) sft in Nov beating Forth Bridge (10-12) by nk, 11 ran.
