in touch, ridden to chase leaders 12th, every chance 2 out, weakened quickly approaching last and left 2nd
held up, mistake 1st, behind from 10th, plugged on for poor 4th
mid-division and keen, headway 9th, ridden 11th, weakened 4 out
tracked leaders and keen, ridden 11th, weakened 4 out
led 2nd, headed 12th, weakened after 3 out, fell 2 out
mid-division, headway 7th, ridden and outpaced 11th, rallied 3 out, pressing leader when left clear last
led, headed 2nd, led again 12th, ridden 3 out, pressed when fell last
in rear, lost touch 6th, jumped left 10th
In the novices' chase, Champagne Harry is selected ahead of Seafield Bogie and This is a tight but good heat with the Market Rasen winner, Champagne Harry, getting the vote. He has taken well to chasing and can continue in that vein today. Kim Baileys Irish import Good Old Days has plenty of placed efforts to his name, while Lawyer des Ormeaux has yet to convince over fences, although he has ability and is officially rated only two pounds inferior to Champagne Harry. Seafield Bogie, a dual chasing winner, is, in turn, rated only a pound behind Peter Bowen's runner and rates as a major player today. The 114-rated winning hurdler, Sultan Fontaneille, and Cresswell Willow, a 107-rated handicap chase winner, are others worthy of a mention but, for the selection, we will stick with Champagne Harry.
Champagne Harry 1-2fav (11-2) Chased leader early, headway 4th, led 9th, kept on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f beg chs (4) gs in Jun beating Stagecoach Opal (10-9) by 5l, 5 ran.
Clova Star (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Prominent, mistake 7th and 8th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Or Sing About (11-5) at Worcester 3m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jun, 15 ran.
Good Old Days (IRE) 4-1fav (11-12) Chased leaders, led 5th, clear from 7th, reduced advantage and mistake 2 out, headed last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 15, 3l behind Tawrific Laois (11-12) at Tramore 2m beg chs gf in Apr.
Lawyer Des Ormeaux (FR) 3-1fav (11-2) Not jump well in rear, no chance 13th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Eurocelt (10-13) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (4) gs in May, 11 ran.
Seafield Bogie (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Behind, ridden 6th, no chance when blundered 4 out, 4th of 6, 22l behind Idris (11-2) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Apr.
Sultan Fontenaille (FR) 12-1 (10-12) In touch, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Raslan (11-8) at Exeter 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in May.
Cresswell Willow (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Always prominent, hit 5th, bumped 10th, led next, hard pressed when hit 3 out, kept on gamely, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Jun beating Baodai (11-12) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Moonfleet (IRE) 5-2 (10-10) Chased leaders, mistake 4th, never travelling and dropped to rear soon after, hit 8th, tailed off and pulled up 4 out in race won by Bollitree Bob (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Jun, 6 ran.
