held up in rear, headway on outside 5 out, close up next, outpaced 3 out, soon beaten, tailed off from next
tracked clear leader, close up 4 out, still disputing 2nd when fell next
held up in 3rd, close up 4 out, left clear 2nd next, poised to challenge between last 2, led before last where not fluent, pushed clear flat, in no danger after, easily
held up towards rear, close up 4 out, left 3rd next, soon driven and one pace, ridden and well held in 4th between last 2
held up towards rear, not fluent 13th, pushed along in rear 4 out, left 4th next, rallied to chase front pair between last 2, ridden and stayed on to snatch 2nd near finish, never going pace to threaten winner
jumped well, allowed clear lead to 4 out, ridden between last 2, headed before last where not fluent, no chance with winner flat, lost 2nd near finish
NonRunner
With no Defi Du Seuil to contend with here, Colin Tizzard will be hopeful that the consistent Lostintranslation can get his head back in front. He should stay 3m around here but is up a potential Gold Cup winner of the future in TOPOFTHEGAME (NAP). Harry Cobden gave the Nicholls’ seven-year-old a superbly-confident ride to land the RSA at The Festival and the sky is the limit. Drovers Lane was beaten 21 lengths at Cheltenham and Top Ville Ben fell, though has had a morale-boosting win since at Wetherby. Chris's Dream won a Grade 2 at Navan when last seen so deserves a crack at this level but the unexposed Mr Whipped faces a very stiff task, as does handicapper Crucial Role.
Chris's Dream (IRE) 5-2 (11-3) Towards rear, 4th halfway, 2nd approaching 4 out, pushed along to lead 2 out, soon ridden and jumped left last, under pressure and kept on run-in, held on well, won at Navan 3m (1) Yielding in Feb beating Champagne Classic (11-3) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Crucial Role 16-1 (11-7) Mid-division, mistake 4th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 24, 21 1/4l behind Beware The Bear (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Lostintranslation (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Led before 2nd, joined 3 out, driven after next, ridden and headed flat, kept on until no extra and held near finish, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Defi Du Seuil (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) gs in Mar.
Mr Whipped (IRE) 8-11fav (11-2) Tracked leader, challenged after 3 out, led approaching last, ridden out flat, kept on, won at Haydock 2m 5f (2) hvy in Dec beating Springtown Lake (11-7) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
Topofthegame (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) In touch in mid-division, headway from 4 out, challenged last, soon led, driven and edged right flat, holding 2nd towards finish, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar beating Santini (11-4) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Top Ville Ben (IRE) Evensfav (11-8) Made all, joined 8th, clear with one other 10th until clear 12th, left well clear 2 out, won at Wetherby 3m (3) sft in Mar beating Sam's Gunner (10-12) by 37l, 5 ran.
Drovers Lane (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place after 2nd, headway 12th, not fluent 14th, ridden and not able to go with leaders before 2 out, no extra, 6th of 12, 20 3/4l behind Topofthegame (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
