led, hit 4th, headed 6th, chased leader, weakened rapidly before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before next
always towards rear, tailed off
took keen hold, not fluent 1st, chased leading pair, 2nd before 4 out, left in clear lead 3 out, pushed along and kept on well run-in
last pair, plugged on but never threatened
held up towards rear, mistake 5th, headway on outside approaching 4 out, left modest 5th 3 out, plugged on
held up in mid-division, headway 7th, 3rd before 4 out, left 2nd and slightly hampered 3 out, kept on run-in, always held
took keen hold, held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, left disputing modest 3rd 3 out, no impression when blundered next
chased leaders, pushed along approaching 4 out, left disputing modest 3rd and hampered 3 out, driven one pace and no impression in 4th next
chased leaders, weakened rapidly 5th, soon behind and pulled up before 7th
took keen hold towards rear, good headway chasing leader 5th, led next, pushed along in 1 length lead when fell heavily 3 out
mid-division, pushed along 6th, soon lost place, pulled up before 3 out
chased leader until 5th, weakened rapidly, before next, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
Champagne Chaser won a Uttoxeter bumper in December but showed little on his hurdling debut at Ffos Las. Champagne Express is interesting, however, as the two that finished ahead of him in a Kilmallock point-to-point last April have both been placed over hurdles this season. WICKER MAN is another convert from points and he can make a winning start under Rules. Dan Skelton has done well with similar types and he might outstay King's Odyssey, though the latter's latest fourth at Sandown has worked out well and he'd be the one to beat if lasting home over the extra half-mile. Brother Bennett and Imagine The Chat are both bumper winners.
Bring Back Charlie 100-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place when mistake 5th, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 13th of 16, well behind Days Of Heaven (11-0) at Ludlow 2m NH mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Brother Bennett (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Behind, some headway into mid-division after 4 out, weakened from next, 9th of 16, well behind Days Of Heaven (11-0) at Ludlow 2m NH mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Champagne Express 6-4 (11-9) Mid-div, 7th 1/2way, prog to 3rd 2out, sn no chance with wnr aft 2out, ko straight, 3rd of 8, 17l behind Champagne Present (11-9) at Kilmallock 3m ire ptp sft in Apr.
Greybougg 150-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, brought down 4th, in a race won by Risk A Fine (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Imagine The Chat 9-1 (11-3) Held up in last pair, weakened over 5f out, soon eased, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Definitly Red (11-3) at Newbury 2m Listed NH flat (1) hvy in Feb '14.
King's Odyssey (IRE) 2-1fav (10-12) Took keen hold, tracked leading trio, chased leading pair on long run to 3rd, 2nd after 5th, every chance when not fluent last, weakened run-in, 4th of 10, 6l behind Caracci Apache (10-12) at Sandown 2m nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Leave It Be (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, chased leaders before 3 out, hung left and stayed on to take 2nd flat, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 18, 8l behind Doctor Harper (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Nov '13.
Sandy Beach 10-1 (10-11) Mid-division, in touch from 3rd, ridden after 3 out, 4th and one pace when fell 2 out, in a race won by Border Breaker (10-11) at Taunton 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 9 ran.
The Playful Priest (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division, behind from 2nd, 5th of 11, well behind Risk A Fine (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Wicker Man 5-4 (12-2) Chsd ldrs, 3rd 1/2way, b mstk 5out, 3l 2nd apr 3out, rdn to hold plc 3out, 3rd apr str, left 2nd last, ko, 2nd of 12, 10l behind Go It Alone (12-2) at Laurencetown 3m ire ptp gs in May.
Maetrufel Annie 33-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly and lost place 1st, behind from 6th, pulled up after, in a race won by Hel Tara (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Many Moons (FR) 250-1 (10-12) Not always fluent in rear, tailed off 5th, pulled up after, in a race won by Fascino Rustico (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 16 ran.
Champagne Chaser 8-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, bumped 3rd, headway 5th, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 5th of 8, 42l behind Foryourinformation (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) hvy in Jan.
