held up in rear, headway to chase leader 14th, jumped left 4 out, close up 2 out, no extra from last
disputed lead, led after 2nd, headed narrowly 12th, lost place and ridden before 4 out, no impression
disputed lead, settled behind leader 2nd, blundered 5th, not fluent 11th (water), led narrowly 12th, extended lead approaching 4 out, reduced advantage 2 out, stayed on strongly last, driven out
held up behind leaders, hit 5th and 6th, not fluent 13th, in rear and pushed along 14th, driven before 4 out, one pace from 3 out
A four-time winner over hurdles, STONEY MOUNTAIN was close up in decent company when unseating his rider on his only previous run over fences at Ascot. He’s changed stables since a fair run in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham in March but probably has the most scope of these. Champagne Well has already placed at Wetherby and Carlisle this season and shouldn’t be far away again with Follow The Bear, who had excuses at Newton Abbot when last seen, also a possibility. Golan Fortune has been going well over timber and has won a point so is nor forlorn hope.
Champagne Well (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) In rear, headway to chase leaders 8th, upsides 2 out, ridden to lead before last, headed soon after, faded flat, 3rd of 5, 5 1/4l behind Remastered (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f (3) hvy in Nov.
Follow The Bear (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Last pair, lost touch 16th, tailed off, left remote 4th before 2 out, 4th of 6, dist behind Soldier Of Love (12-2) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f (3) gd in Sep.
Golan Fortune (IRE) 4-1jfav (10-12) Chased leaders, challenged 2 out, led flat, headed final 100 yards, 3rd and no extra close home, 3rd of 10, 2l behind On The Blind Side (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Stoney Mountain (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Mid-division, mistake 8th, headway on inside 3 out, outpaced after 2 out, plugged on before last, no impression, 9th of 24, 20 3/4l behind Sire Du Berlais (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
