held up in rear, headway on outside before 2 out, led last, ridden and headed flat, stayed on
chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, beaten after 2 out, well held when hung right after last
mid-division, effort on inside when not fluent 2 out, beaten home bend, hampered after last
chased leaders, went 2nd after 3rd racing keenly, led after 5th, headed after 7th, led 9th, hit 2 out, headed before last, stayed on same pace
chased leader until after 3rd, stayed handy, ridden after 2 out, one pace before last
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, soon pushed along, led before last, soon headed, led again flat, stayed on, edged left towards finish
held up, pulled hard, headway after 5th, ridden and beaten home bend, not much room after last
led, clear briefly early, headed after 5th, led after 7th, not fluent and headed 9th, lost place before 2 out, pulled up before last
Useful staying chaser Valtor held off Wetherby winner Redford Road over a slightly shorter trip at Ascot, despite hanging in the closing stages. But the boot is on the other foot here as the 10-year-old now has to give 3lb to his old rival having received 5lb in their first meeting. The latter’s yard also run the improving Mossy Fen in this Grade 2 while the Henderson team double up with Ascot maiden winner Igor. CHAMPAGNE WELL (NAP) has yet to run a bad race over hurdles and sets a high standard. Though he failed to win last season that could be a blessing in disguise as he now looks more the finished article and there was no disgrace in his latest second here to the smart Thyme Hill.
Champagne Well (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Held up on outside, headway after 3 out (usual 4 out), driven to chase leaders after next, soon ridden, went 2nd and kept on after last, no impression with winner final 150 yards, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Thyme Hill (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Nov.
Valtor (FR) 10-11fav (10-12) Chased leaders, led before 2 out, hung right after last, hard ridden, stayed on well, won at Ascot 2m 6f (2) sft in Nov beating Redford Road (11-3) by 2l, 5 ran.
Igor 5-1 (11-0) Led 2nd, made rest, ridden out, won at Ascot 2m 3f mdn (3) sft in Nov beating Papa Tango Charly (11-0) by 7l, 14 ran.
Kiltealy Briggs (IRE) Evensfav (10-12) Tracked leaders, chased leader 6th, led by omitted 2 out, soon clear, comfortable(last hurdle in back straight omitted on both circuits), won at Hexham 2m 4f (4) hvy in Nov beating Itsnotyouitsme (10-12) by 36l, 8 ran.
Mossy Fen (IRE) 5-4fav (11-4) Made all, shaken up before 2 out, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Aintree 2m 4f (4) sft in Nov beating Keep Wondering (10-12) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.
Redford Road 9-2 (11-3) Held up in touch, headway approaching 2 out, every chance last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Valtor (10-12) at Ascot 2m 6f (2) sft in Nov.
Saint Xavier (FR) (10-10) 6th of 9, 30l behind Srelighonn (10-7) at Auteuil 2m 6f sft in Nov.
The Mulcair (IRE) 2-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 1st, led 3rd, went clear approaching 2 out, ridden before the last, kept up to work run-in, won at Southwell 3m (4) hvy in Nov beating Jepeck (11-9) by 11l, 5 ran.
