tracked leaders in 3rd place, left in lead before 6th, ridden and pressed before last, kept on well towards finish
always towards rear, weakened after 5th
held up mid-division, reminders after 5th, left in 3rd place before 6th, ridden after 2 out, soon weakened
led, headed after 5th, soon slipped up on bend
in rear, headway after 4th, left 2nd place before 6th, ridden and every chance when hung left before last, kept on and well held towards finish
in touch in 4th place, lost place before 4th and dropped to rear, soon reminders, tailed off 5th
tracked leader, led after 5th, soon slipped up on bend
NonRunner
Champagne City has justified favouritism on each of his last two hurdle outings, but he hasn’t looked the easiest of rides, so preference is for MISTER UNIVERSUM. Dan Skelton’s five-year-old has taken a while to get the hang of things but the penny dropped when he won over course and distance last time and the manner of his victory suggested there was more to come. Not At All may prove useful in time but has shown little in three hurdle outings to date, comments which also apply to Kalanisi Glen, who fell at Uttoxeter last time. Ocean Eleven showed modest improvement at Worcester and can make the frame.
Champagne City 4-6fav (11-1) Tracked leading pair and keen, mistake 2nd, outpaced 2 out, rallied between last 2, led approaching last, kept on well, won at Stratford 2m (4) gd in Jun beating Thahab Ifraj (10-9) by 3l, 6 ran.
Chasing Headlights (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, outpaced after 4 out, 8th of 9, dist behind Ahead of The Curve (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f mdn (5) gd in Jul.
Fair Frank 33-1 (11-0) Chased leaders in well strung out field, closed 5th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, dist behind Eyesopenwideawake (11-0) at Southwell 2m mdn (5) gd in Jun.
Justice Knight (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, pressed winner, awkward 2nd, soon led, slow and headed 3rd, weakened after 2 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, dist behind Dear Sire (11-12) at Stratford 2m (4) gd in Jul.
Kalanisi Glen (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Held up, took keen hold, headway on outside to chase winner 3rd until before 4 out, 3rd and weakening when fell 3 out, at Uttoxeter 2m (4) gd in Jun.
Not At All (FR) 25-1 (10-10) Tracked winner until 3 out, soon weakened, last of 9, 37 1/4l behind Lovato (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m (4) gd in Jul.
Ocean Eleven 10-1 (10-10) Edgy, led, wandered into 1st, hit 4 out, ridden after next, headed 2 out, weakened before the last, 5th of 6, 18 1/2l behind Novis Adventus (10-12) at Worcester 2m (4) gd in Jul.
Mister Universum (GER) 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leader until after 2nd, stayed handy in chasing pack, 2nd again on last bend, led before last, soon clear, won at Stratford 2m mdn (4) gd in Jul beating Jodies Jem (11-0) by 9l, 8 ran.
Diamondsaretrumps (IRE) 50-1 (8-8) Behind, ridden 4f out, no real headway, 10th of 13, 13 1/2l behind Cainhoe Star (9-7) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (6) pol in Jul.
