disputed lead, clear leader 5 out, joined again next, stayed on well approaching last, ridden clear flat
held up in last pair, pecked 8th, outpaced 5 out, 5th and last when fell next
held up in last pair, headway 16th, joined leading pair on outside 4 out, upsides when mistake next, outpaced before 2 out, soon no impression
disputed lead, blundered 13th, lost place 5 out, 4th and outpaced when mistake next, soon beaten, tailed off
tracked leading pair, joined winner 4 out, hit next, driven and every chance approaching 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no chance with winner flat
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Champion Court had Sybarite behind when giving vain chase to Grands Crus over a shorter trip here last month. He was conceding 5lb to the smart winner that day so that was no mean effort but Martin Keighley's charge didn't appear to get home over 3m over hurdles here in March when finishing 11 lengths adrift of MOSSLEY. The latter also beat Join Together over timber here exactly a year ago and, though faced with a straightforward task on his chasing debut at Kempton, will have learned from that experience and looks the one to beat today. Join Together kept on well to beat Tea For Three over C&D last time but may prefer a softer surface, while Old Wigmore has more to do than when winning at Exeter. Wetherby winner Fists Of Fury looks to be improving, however, and Traffic Article can usually be relied upon to run his race though faces a stiff task under a double penalty.
Join Together (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, dropped to 5th and pushed along when mistake 12th, headway going better approaching 3 out, challenged 2 out, led last, pressed 125 yards out, pulled out extra towards finish, won at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) gs in Nov beating Teaforthree (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Traffic Article (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, hampered when trying to challenge after 3 out and lost ground on leaders, closed from 2 out to take 2nd last, soon led, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) gf in Oct beating Your Busy (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Champion Court (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Led until 3rd, led 7th, headed 12th, not fluent and went right 3 out when getiing outpaced by winner, closed and 3 lengths down last, soon brushed aside, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Grands Crus (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (2) gd in Nov.
Fists Of Fury (IRE) Evensfav (11-2) Tracked leader, led 7th, mistake 4 out, hit 2 out, kept on, driven out, won at Wetherby 3m 1f beg chs (5) gs in Nov beating Battle Group (11-2) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Mossley (IRE) 1-8fav (11-2) Tracked leader, jumped slowly 11th, blundered badly 5 out, led 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Kempton 3m beg chs (4) gd in Nov beating Canni Thinkaar (10-11) by 10l, 3 ran.
Old Wigmore (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Made all, propped 2nd, went left 3rd, came clear from 2 out, eased close home, unchallenged, won at Exeter 3m Novice Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) gs in Nov beating Simply Wings (11-2) by 7l, 7 ran.
Sybarite (FR) 25-1 (11-2) Held up, slightly hampered 9th, soon ridden, outpaced by leaders from 4 out, no impression, 4th of 7, 20l behind Grands Crus (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (2) gd in Nov.
