held up in rear, jumped slowly 5th, hit 9th, ridden 13th, weakened next, left poor 4th 2 out, tailed off
held up, not fluent 12th, headway 4 out, chased winner next, 4 lengths down and driven 2 out, stayed on, no impression
made virtually all, 4 lengths clear when awkward landing 2 out and rider unbalanced briefly, gathered up and stayed on well
prominent, hit 1st and 11th, not fluent 12th, chased winner after 15th until hit 3 out, 3rd and weakening when fell 2 out
tracked leaders on outside, lost place before 5th, behind from 7th, pulled up after
pressed winner, led 13th, headed next, weakened after 3 out, left modest 3rd 2 out
held up in touch towards rear, headway approaching 5th, not fluent 12th, hit 14th, ridden next, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before next
held up, not fluent 5th, 5 lengths off leader when blundered badly 4 out, no impression after, soon pulled up
This is likely to be too tough for Beggar's Velvet and Epee Celeste while Ackertac has had plenty of chances and isn't getting any closer. What A Warrior's run earlier on the card should be a pointer to the chances of Benheir, who was backed to beat him at Bangor and can only improve for the experience, while White Star Line was second in a Listed handicap at the Festival here in March, though that is looking increasingly like a fluke. Tour Des Champs had Sea Of Thunder behind over hurdles here in the spring and beat good yardstick Shoegazer at Uttoxeter in May but there should be more to come from the lightly-raced SIRE COLLONGES, who won very easily at Fontwell on his chasing debut and should have plenty more to offer.
Beggar's Velvet (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up, headway approaching 11th, challenged 4 out, not fluent next, led 2 out, edged left approaching last, ridden clear flat, won at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Sep beating Sentimentaljourney (11-2) by 7l, 6 ran.
Sea Of Thunder (IRE) Evensfav (11-0) Tracked leaders, bad mistake 5th, good jump to led 5 out, went clear travelling well 3 out, stayed on strongly from next, very easily, won at Clonmel 3m nov chs gf in Sep beating Total Submission (11-0) by 13l, 8 ran.
Sire Collonges (FR) 5-2 (11-0) Made all, jumped well, clear from 3 out, easily, won at Fontwell 2m 6f beg chase (4) gs in May beating Charming Lad (11-0) by 17l, 5 ran.
Tour Des Champs (FR) 7-2 (10-5) Led, not fluent 6th, soon headed, stayed prominent, ridden after 3 out, challenged 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on well to draw clear flat, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nov chs (4) gs in May beating Shoegazer (11-5) by 7l, 6 ran.
Epee Celeste (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Led, ridden and headed soon after 3 out, driven and kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Baily Storm (10-8) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Sep.
Ackertac (IRE) Evensfav (11-4) Tracked winner, not fluent 8th, ridden 3 out, no impression from 2 out, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Valmari (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f beg chs (4) gs.
Benheir (IRE) 6-5fav (10-12) Led, hit 1st, headed 3rd, led again 5th, headed before 9th, led again 4 out, ridden and headed before last, quickly weakened, 2nd of 10, 14l behind What A Warrior (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd.
White Star Line (IRE) 9-4 (11-12) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, 2nd 7 out, ridden and no impression before 3 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 12, 33l behind Back In Focus (11-12) at Listowel 2m 6f beg chs hvy in Sep.
