jumped slickly, raced keenly, made all, clear before 2 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged
pushed along most of way, tracked winner until before 1st, raced in 3rd until dropped to 4th before 3rd, rallied into 3rd again before next, driven along and outpaced before flattened 3 out, went remote 3rd again run-in
tracked winner before 1st, ridden and well held before 2 out, never any chance
held up in 5th, hit 4th, headway on inside into 3rd before 3 out, beaten when hit last, weakened into 4th run-in
held up in 4th place, closer in 3rd before 3rd until before next, outpaced in rear when mistake 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
WEST TO THE BRIDGE (NAP) was fourth at Exeter last month and may be returning to some kind of form. Investment Manager is held on that run and the Skelton runner is very well handicapped nowadays being 15lb lower than when a close second in a higher grade at Wetherby less than 12 months ago. Nordano hasn’t won in more than two years and was disappointing again at Ascot while Bellatrixsa has an absence to overcome. Champagne Rhythm reverts to hurdles having failed to take to fences.
West To The Bridge (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up, headway off pace 3 out, could not go pace of leaders 2 out, stayed on strongly from last, 4th of 11, 6 3/4l behind Champagne Court (11-10) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Nordano (GER) 4-1 (11-6) Led, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, lost 2nd 2 out, weakened between last two, beaten when tired mistake last, 9th of 12, 21l behind Earth Lord (11-11) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Bellatrixsa (IRE) 11-1 (8-11) Led, joined 2f out, headed before final furlong, no extra, 8th of 19, 4 3/4l behind Zeeband (9-8) at Newcastle 2m hcp (2) pol in Jun.
Champagne Rhythm (IRE) 40-1 (10-11) Held up, awkward and ridden 8 out, detached in last 6 out and struggling, no headway and pulled up 5 out, at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Investment Manager 9-2 (10-13) Mid-division, pushed along after 5th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 11, 25 3/4l behind Champagne Court (11-10) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
