never going well in rear, well behind from 8th
chased leaders until 2nd, mid-division, closed from 8th, not fluent 3 out, challenging when jumped left and not fluent 2 out, carried left flat, held close home
chased leaders until 2nd, mid-division, pushed along after 8th, well beaten 4th from 2 out
in rear, ridden after 4 out, no impression, well beaten from 3 out
with leader, led 4 out, hard pressed 2 out, soon edged left, edged left again flat, stayed on gamely
made most until 4 out, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, pushed along at times, not fluent 4 out, soon weakened
Champagne Noir’s only victory to date came over fences here last season but he is usually worth opposing. FLEXI FURLOUGH has also been expensive to follow but cheekpieces are added today and the step up to 3m at Wetherby seemed to suit. Kendelu has been in fine form at a lower level and Nelsons Rock went close at Ludlow after scoring at Taunton, though has gone up another 6lb.
Champagne Noir (IRE) 4-6fav (11-11) Chased leader until 3rd, went 2nd 5th until 7th, not fluent 12th, slow 13th, outpaced 4 out, rallied after 3 out, challenged 2 out, held final 75 yards, kept on, 2nd of 4, 1 1/4l behind Wick Green (11-12) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Flexi Furlough (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Close up, headway 8th, tracked leaders 3 out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Bean In Trouble (11-11) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Nelsons Rock 9-2 (11-7) Raced in mid-division, made headway before 3 out, kept on after 2 out, led at final hurdle, headed close home, 2nd of 12, shd behind Steinkraus (11-13) at Ludlow 3m hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Kendelu (IRE) 4-1fav (11-8) Badly hampered start and lost ground, towards rear, headway into mid-division 4 out, went 3rd home turn, pressed leader going easily before 2 out, ridden after last to lead closing stages, won at Taunton 3m hcp (5) gd in Dec beating Colonel Manderson (11-9) by 3/4l, 17 ran.
Le Grand Lion (FR) 100-1 (10-12) Chased winner until 4th, weakened before 3 out, last of 5, dist behind Stage Star (11-4) at Newbury 2m 5f (3) gs in Nov.
Blackfinch 10-1 (11-8) Led, headed over 4 out, outpaced well over 2 out and soon held, 8th of 11, 13l behind Vee Dancer (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Sackett 9-1 (11-12) Led, 5 lengths clear 5th, reduced lead 11th, headed 13th, close up, ridden next, pulled up soon after 4 out, at Fakenham 3m hcp (5) gd in Nov.
