held up towards rear, headway approaching last, never on terms and no impression flat
held up in mid-division, headway 3 out, stayed on same pace last, no impression on leaders
held up in touch, ridden and weakened after 2 out, remote 8th when propped, went right and unseated rider last
held up towards rear, headway 2 out, soon ridden and outpaced, well held last
led until headed and pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced after 2 out, weakened last
tracked leaders, not fluent 3 out, weakened after next
mid-division, headway approaching 6th, led 3 out, headed and mistake last, no extra final 100 yards
held up in rear, headway when mistake 2 out, every chance last, stayed on flat, no impression on winner final 100 yards
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway after 2 out, led last, stayed on well, comfortably
tracked leader, led before 3 out, soon headed, weakened after 2 out
Western Way won't be wanting for match fitness having been on the go for some time but the Musselburgh scorer will need a career best to score here and HERBERT PARK (NAP) makes more appeal. David Pipe's charge makes a first appearance in handicap company and the Kempton winner can take advantage of what appears to be a very fair mark. Tjongejonge won two races for previous connections in France and is of interest on his debut for Charlie Longsdon. Fort Worth looked to have a bright future ahead a year ago but he lost his way badly and now has something to prove. Hedley Lamarr justified very short odds at Warwick on his second start and he is likely to be suited by the going. Connections had reportedly considered the idea of going chasing with Champagne Express so their decision to stay over hurdles could be significant under the circumstances.
Erlkonig (GER) 3-1fav (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden in 4th 3f out, weakened from 2f out, last of 7, 14 1/4l behind Gambling Girl (10-9) at Wexford 1m 7f Yielding in Aug.
Champagne Express 7-4fav (11-8) Took keen hold and never fluent, tracked leading pair until jumped slowly 1st, not fluent next, awkward 5th, 3rd before 3 out, pushed along and challenged 2 out, soon driven and not pace of leading duo, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Rock The Kasbah (11-1) at Newbury 2m 5f (3) gs in Mar.
Herbert Park (IRE) 7-4fav (11-9) Held up in touch, mistake 8th, headway 4 out, every chance after 3 out, led just after next, hard ridden, kept on well, won at Kempton 3m (4) gd in Mar beating Amidon (11-2) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Western Way (IRE) 13-8fav (11-7) Close up, headway to challenge 3 out, led next, ridden clear, eased towards finish, won at Musselburgh 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Serenity Now (11-7) by 6l, 6 ran.
Tjongejonge (FR) (10-12) 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Attalco (11-0) at Lyon-Parilly 2m 3f gd in Jun.
Hedley Lamarr (IRE) 4-11fav (11-1) Tracked leader, blundered 3 out, soon ridden, challenged next, led last, driven out, won at Warwick 2m (4) sft in Mar beating Aston Cantlow (11-1) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Fearachain (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, held up, not fluent 9th, 7th before straight, 6th before last, one pace, 6th of 9, 9 1/4l behind Jarob (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp gd in Oct.
Cusheen Bridge (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, reminders after 3 out, headway before 2 out, led before last, soon ridden, kept on strongly, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Ben Cee Pee M (11-6) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Fort Worth (IRE) 5-2fav (11-1) Held up in rear, took keen hold, stumbled and fell just after 5th, at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Leave At Dawn (IRE) 9-2fav (10-12) Chased leaders, 8th halfway, progress 3 out and 3rd next, ridden in 2nd and mistake last, no extra run-in, 4th of 17, 5l behind The Job Is Right (11-11) at Galway 2m 6f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Coup De Grace (IRE) 10-1 (9-6) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, never on terms, 13th of 14, 9 1/4l behind The Ducking Stool (9-4) at Newbury 2m hcp (5) gs in Oct.
