pressed leader until not fluent 5th, weakened after 7th, tailed off
in touch, went second 5th, led approaching 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, edged left after last, weakened towards finish
in touch, mistake and lost place briefly 7th, no impression from 9th
soon in touch, driven 7th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, headway 8th, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, stayed on flat, driven out
pulled hard towards rear, headway after 6th, ridden after next, weakened 8th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
not fluent 4th, always in rear, losing touch from 7th, tailed off
held up in rear, pushed along and headway after 9th, fifth and in touch when mistake 3 out, soon weakened
soon led, pushed along and headed before 3 out, eased, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, not fluent 3rd, ridden before 7th, weakened approaching next, tailed off
prominent when jumped slowly and unseated rider 1st
mid-division on outside, hampered 1st, headway 7th, challenged 3 out, soon driven, edged left flat, one pace
Champagne Dancer was nothing out of the ordinary on the flat but made a pleasing debut over hurdles when a fair third behind Fred Kennet here last month and he has to be respected but may struggle to get the better of another lightly raced runner, DE BANSHA MAN, who gets the vote ahead of King of Castile. Paul Webber's gelding ran better here over 2m4f last time and he has to be respected stepping up in trip today. Don McCain's Joe's A Boy is less exposed than most of these after just four starts but has yet to reproduce the promising form that he showed in his only start in a bumper and in three starts over hurdles. Paddy Rodford's Holmwood Legend has been well held in both starts in bumpers and a bigger threat is likely to come from Sprosser. Oliver Sherwood's gelding has shown improved form over fences and could be of interest back over hurdles but a better bet looks to be De Bansha Man. Having run well in his only start in an Irish point-to-point, the four-year-old made a pleasing first start for Nigel Twiston-Davies when chasing home Flaygray at Perth last month and a reproduction of that form may well suffice in this company.
Follow Your Heart (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) In touch, jumped slowly 1st and 2nd, lost place 5th, behind 9th, pulled up before 10th, in a race won by Kavi (11-7) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Sep, 13 ran.
Holmwood Legend 8-1 (12-0) Hdwy to ld 11; clr 15; unchall, won at Bonvilston 3m ptp gf in May beating Danny's Last (11-7) by well, 6 ran.
Joe's A Boy (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Prominent, every chance when fell 14th, in a race won by Black Anshan (11-0) at Southwell 3m 2f beg chase (4) gd in May, 5 ran.
King of Castile 11-2 (11-0) Prominent, lost place approaching 3 out, stayed on flat, 4th of 13, 10l behind Sweet Seville (10-7) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Jun.
Sprosser (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Led to 2nd, prominent, led 8th to 10th, weakened approaching 4 out, 5th of 9, 24l behind Sandymac (10-1) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Squadron Leader (IRE) 150-1 (10-11) Held up mid-division, ridden, lost place after 5th, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind High Gales (11-0) at Stratford 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gd in Jul.
Well Done You (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 7th, soon struggling, 7th of 12, well behind Baily Storm (11-0) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) gf in Sep.
Champagne Dancer 100-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, switched right flat, stayed on, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Fred Kennet (10-13) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Sep.
De Bansha Man (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Led, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Flaygray (11-4) at Perth 2m NH flat (6) gf in Sep.
Ballinross (IRE) 17-2 (11-7) Held up; hdwy 15; led cl home, won at Upcott Cross 3m ptp gd in May beating Meilyr (12-0) by hd, 11 ran.
Ehowee (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Close up, behind and pushed along approaching 6th, 9th of 12, well behind Baily Storm (11-0) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) gf in Sep.
Ordelia 80-1 (10-12) Mid-division, lost place 4th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Edgefour (10-12) at Southwell 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr, 12 ran.
Simplyirresistible (IRE) 200-1 (10-7) Towards rear, pushed along approaching 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Baily Storm (11-0) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) gf in Sep, 12 ran.