tracked leaders, headway before 4 out, soon joined winner, every chance 3 out, ridden and beaten before last
led, jumped right 1st and badly bumped, headed 3rd, led again 10th, headed 11th, mistake 14th, led again 5 out, headed after 4 out, weakened before 3 out
in rear, smooth headway before 13th, went 2nd after 5 out, led after 4 out, shaken up to draw clear before last, kept on strongly
tracked leaders, dropped to rear after 3rd, mistake next, chased leaders 9th, hit next, weakened from 5 out
with leader and badly bumped 1st, switched left to lead before 3rd, not fluent and headed 10th, led again 11th, headed 5 out, soon weakened
JOIN TOGETHER gave weight and a beating to Champion Court at Cheltenham in December having earlier beaten subsequent National Hunt Chase winner Teaforthree at the same track. He was never really travelling on quicker ground in last month's RSA Chase and was pulled up after making the early running. Recent rain is very much in his favour and he can bounce back here, though Champion Court's jumping has been much improved lately and he ran a cracker when trying to make all over a shorter trip in the Jewson Novices' Chase at The Festival last time having beaten Solix, who was conceding 3lb, at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. Silviniaco Conti, second to Grand Crus in the Feltham on Boxing Day, may have trouble lasting home over the trip on dead ground and Yes Tom is likely to find this company much too strong.
Champion Court (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Led, headed narrowly 5th, disputed lead after, led again 11th, driven before 2 out, soon hard pressed, ridden before last, kept on until headed and not pace of winner final 150 yards, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Sir Des Champs (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) gd in Mar.
Join Together (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Soon led, headed narrowly before 12th, lost place 16th, behind from 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Bobs Worth (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs G1 (1) gd in Mar, 9 ran.
Silviniaco Conti (FR) 11-10fav (11-7) Prominent, went 2nd 3rd, led 11th, narrowly headed 14th, led again next, narrowly headed 4 out, led again after 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened between last 2, 4th of 7, 10l behind Invictus (11-4) at Ascot 3m nov chs G2 (1) gs in Feb.
Solix (FR) 7-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, 7th and outpaced when hit and pecked 4 out, never on terms, 6th of 10, 40l behind Sir Des Champs (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) gd in Mar.
Yes Tom (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, 4th when mistake and unseated rider 9th, in a race won by Killyglen (11-0) at Down Royal 3m 2f chs sft in Mar, 8 ran.
