midfield, jumped left 1st, slow 11th, bumped 12th and soon pushed, stayed on one pace
held up in rear, slow 12th and soon pushed, could not get involved
held up, carried out after 4th
prominent, bad mistake 4th and quickly pulled up
contested lead, restrained to track leaders before 4th where fell
contested lead, tracked leader after 6th, bumped 12th, quick 4 out and hit front, sauntered clear, won eased down
contested lead, clear leader after 6th, headed 4 out when pushed, soon outpaced
towards rear, some progress after 12th, went second after last but no match for easy winner
There would not have been a great deal between a few of these over hurdles and this is a potentially-informative novices’ chase. One Night In Milan wasn’t always fluent over the smaller obstacles but only fell once and he made the frame at least in all of his runs last season, including in a Grade 2 at Haydock. Shan Blue ran in the Ballymore at The Festival in March and, though well beaten, wasn’t disgraced. A winner at Cheltenham around this time last year, CHAMPAGNE WELL (NAP) was second in three Grade 2 races subsequently. He was strongly fancied for the Coral Cup on his final start but a bad blunder put paid to his chances and he was pulled up. He looks the type to do well over fences and goes well fresh so gets the nod with his stable still firing on all cylinders. Sirwilliamwallace should make a chaser but is pitched in at the deep end here.
Champagne Well (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) In touch on outside, blundered and lost place 2 out, not recover and soon behind, weakened and pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
General Custard 11-8fav (11-4) With leader, led 3rd, ridden and pressed from 2 out, not fluent last, ran on, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec beating War Brigade (10-12) by 3l, 6 ran.
Howling Milan (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Raced keenly, chased winner until pushed along after 3 out, weakened rapidly with rider looking down, behind when blundered 2 out, virtually pulled up, 14th of 17, 33 1/4l behind Downtown Getaway (11-8) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
One Night In Milan (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, not fluent 7th, closed next, led 3 out, headed next, weakened final 150 yards, just held onto 3rd, 3rd of 6, 11 1/2l behind Emitom (11-2) at Haydock 3m (1) hvy in Feb.
Rob The Getaway (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Led to 2; lost plce 12; no hdwy 3 out, 5th of 20, 21 1/2l behind Salvatore (12-0) at Larkhill 3m gd in Dec.
Shan Blue (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) Held up in last pair, behind and outpaced when not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on past beaten rivals after last, never nearer, 6th of 12, 27l behind Envoi Allen (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Mar.
Sirwilliamwallace (IRE) 15-2 (11-4) Chased leader until 3 out, hung left after, 4th and held when badly hampered 2 out, not recover, eased, 6th of 7, dist behind Mr Scrumpy (11-6) at Newcastle 2m 6f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Repetitio (IRE) 3-1fav (10-0) Tracked leaders, headway to press leaders 4f out, narrowly led 3f out, outpaced when ridden and weakened entering final furlong, 6th of 11, 10l behind Billy No Mates (9-11) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (5) sft in Sep.
