led until before 3rd, tracked leader, led after 8th, headed before 10th, outpaced after 3 out, rallied and went 4th last, stayed on, closing on 3rd close home
held up in rear, hampered 3rd, mistake 10th, headway 12th, weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 12th, badly hampered and lost momentum 3 out, rallied and went 3rd last, stayed on well, took 2nd flat, unable to reach winner
tracked leaders, not fluent 12th, led after 3 out, headed before last, no impression on winner and lost 2nd flat
tracked leaders, 2nd 11th, every chance 2 out, weakened before last
with leader, led before 3rd, headed after 8th, led again before 10th, jumped right and mistake 3 out, soon headed, weakened before last
mid-division, mistake and lost place 3rd, headway 12th, challenged 2 out, led before last, driven out
A cracking renewal of this Grade 2 and it's hard to rule out any of the seven runners. Former champion Sire De Grugy is probably better over 2m, however, while Smad Place is definitely better over further. Vibrato Valtat beat Third Intention, GOD'S OWN and Sire De Grugy in this grade at Exeter on his reappearance last year but Tom George's gelding, who improved to win Grade 1 races here and at Punchestown in April, is fancied to turn the tables over this longer trip despite worse terms. Three Musketeers is still unexposed and finished a fair fourth in the JLT Novices' Chase at Cheltenham in March so could be the biggest threat as though Royal Regatta is a cracking handicapper he has a bit to prove in this grade.
Smad Place (FR) 10-1 (11-10) Hit 1st, with leader, led narrowly 3rd, headed 16th, outpaced after 4 out, no impression with leaders before next, weakened from 2 out, 6th of 9, 37 1/2l behind Don Cossack (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) gd in Mar.
Sire De Grugy (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Tracked leader until after 2nd, 2nd again next, led 5th, not fluent when pressed 3 out, soon headed, no chance with winner, lost 2nd at the last, weakened run-in, 4th of 6, 23l behind Sprinter Sacre (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) gd in Apr.
God's Own (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, disputed 2nd from 5th, ridden entering straight, improved to lead 2 out, stayed on well from last, won at Punchestown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr beating Vautour (11-12) by 2l, 7 ran.
Vibrato Valtat (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, slightly hampered 9th, not fluent next, last when hit 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, dist behind God's Own (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gs in Apr.
Three Musketeers (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, jumped slowly 3rd, left 4th 4 out, outpaced after next, stayed on to dispute 3rd at last, one pace flat, 4th of 9, 5 1/4l behind Black Hercules (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) gd in Mar.
Royal Regatta (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Led, mistake 12th, headed before 2 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 8, 22 1/4l behind Silviniaco Conti (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb.
Third Intention (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Sometimes jumped left, led until 4 out, ridden and lost 2nd approaching next, soon driven and no chance with leading duo, weakened into 4th run-in, 4th of 7, 12 1/4l behind Menorah (11-10) at Sandown 2m 7f (1) gd in Apr.
