prominent, soon led, slight mistake 6th, joined when fell 2 out
soon raced in 4th, pushed along briefly approaching straight, left chasing front pair from 2 out where slight mistake, left moderate 2nd from last, kept on well to close on winner but never getting there closing stages
tracked leaders, soon 3rd, on terms when left in lead from 2 out and bumped with rival, travelling smoothly when left clear at last, pushed out closing stages to maintain lead, comfortably
led, slow in jumping early and soon headed, prominent, soon 2nd, pushed along into straight, challenged and bumped with rival 2 out, not matching winner but still very much in touch when fell last
in touch towards rear, slight mistake 3 out, soon under pressure and no impression, no extra and left 5th from 2 out, left distant 4th from last
in touch towards rear, slight mistake 6th, pushed along from 3 out, no impression and left chasing leaders from 2 out where slightly impeded, left distant 3rd from last
Cap York was extremely highly tried after landing a Navan maiden hurdle in December but managed to win a tough Punchestown handicap. He has a chaser's pedigree and looks a smart recruit. He was conceding 7lb when beating Captain Cj at Navan but the latter looked a promising stayer when scoring easily over timber at Hexham. CHAMPAGNE CLASSIC looks potentially high class over fences, despite being beaten in his two starts to date. A Grade 1 winner over hurdles, a couple of mistakes put paid to his chances in Grade 2 and 3 company when returning from a very long break earlier this year and he'll be ready for this. His stable companion Flawless Escape made an encouraging reappearance over this trip at Roscommon last month and should be winning soon.
Cap York (FR) 66-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders on outer, 3rd halfway, ridden and no impression after 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 12, dist behind Minella Indo (11-10) at Punchestown 3m (1) Yielding in May.
Captain Cj (IRE) 4-5fav (11-0) Held up and behind, steady progress 6th, led approaching last, reminder and soon clear, hit last, easily, won at Hexham 2m 7f (4) gs in Mar beating Shaman Du Berlais (11-0) by 7l, 7 ran.
Champagne Classic (IRE) 5-4fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden approaching 2 out and went 2nd before last, under pressure and kept on run-in, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Chris's Dream (11-3) at Navan 3m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Flawless Escape 3-1fav (11-12) Soon tracked leaders, 5th at 8th, impeded 2 out, soon no impression until headway to chase winner and kept on without threatening run-in, 2nd of 16, 3 3/4l behind Swordsman (11-12) at Roscommon 2m 5f hvy in Sep.
Lotto Numbers (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Tr ldrs, 5th 1/2way, 4th app str, ko to go 3rd cl hm, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Ofalltheginjoints (12-2) at Monksgrange 3m mdn Yielding - Soft in Apr.
The Long Mile 12-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, slight mistake 5th, bad mistake 2 out, kept on same pace without threatening from before last, 7th of 14, 10 1/2l behind Stacks Mountain (11-2) at Punchestown 3m hcp Yielding in Jun.
