led, not fluent 1st, hit 12th, ridden and headed before 3 out, no extra when blundered 2 out
held up, made headway before 4 out where not fluent, soon ridden, plugged on one pace from next
in touch, mistake 2nd, hit 8th, nudged along after 10th, ridden 4 out, not fluent next,
chased leaders, hit 8th, headway to lead before 3 out, not fluent last, stayed on well
prominent, lost place after 6th, ridden along 10th, dropped to rear before 4 out, soon beaten
mid-division, hit 1st, headway to go prominent after 6th, nudged along before 4 out, ridden before next, kept on from 2 out
Brelan D'As comfortably landed a course and distance handicap but made too many mistakes in a three-runner Doncaster event the following week. DEFI SACRE has had a couple of recent runs on very testing ground in France but is much better on quicker going and scored at this level at Ascot in March. He's only 2lb higher while bumper and hurdles winner Fete Champetre might have won at Hexham but for running out at the last. The latter then jumped poorly at Ayr while Valence D'Aumont, who completed a double in the spring, also made too many mistakes at Doncaster after falling at Wetherby. Ard Chros and Scottish Accent have both done better in testing conditions.
Defi Sacre (FR) 8-1 (11-9) Made mistakes, never troubled leaders, 4th of 5, 16l behind Boston Emery (10-12) at Fontainebleau 2m 2f hvy in Nov.
Brelan D'As (FR) 5-6fav (11-0) Held up behind front pair, mistake 4th, pushed along after 5 out, ridden and outpaced omitted 4 out, stayed on, never on terms with winner, last of 3, 4l behind Sir Tivo (11-6) at Doncaster 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Fete Champetre (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Chased leaders, headway to go second before 4 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, every chance when blundered last, no extra flat, just held on for second, 2nd of 6, 5 1/2l behind Dreams Of Home (11-8) at Ayr 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Valence D'Aumont (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Handy, shaken up 4 out, ridden before 2 out, gradually faded, last of 4, 7 1/2l behind Barton Knoll (11-7) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Ard Chros (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Front mid-division, pressed leaders before 3 out, outpaced by front pair and soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 5th of 10, 36 3/4l behind Breaking The Ice (10-10) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Scottish Accent (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 9th, struggling from next, 6th of 10, 27 1/4l behind Scene Not Herd (11-11) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
