chased leaders, outpaced 8th, left modest 4th 4 out
chased leader, led after 7th, made rest, clear from 3 out, easily
pecked 1st, tracked leaders, 2nd before 3 out, no chance with winner, lost 2nd at the last, regained that position close home
held up, good headway into 3rd 7th, went 2nd 12th until approaching 3 out, chased leading pair, went modest 2nd again last until close home
led until after 7th, chased winner, knuckled on landing and and lost 2nd 12th, weakening when fell heavily 4 out
tracked leaders, weakened quickly 12th, behind and pullled up before 4 out
Paul Nicholls has won the last four renewals but, surprisingly, doesn't have a runner this year. Voix D'eau has yet to finish outside the first two in four runs over fences and got back to winning ways at Doncaster last month. The third has won since to boost the form while Kings Lad and Royal Regatta both have the past form to figure. But Horizontal Speed has disappointed since finishing fourth at Cheltenham in March and Mala Beach fell heavily on his reappearance in a Listed chase at Thurles and that may have affected his confidence. BLUE FASHION makes his chasing bow but gets a healthy weight allowance and has been running against the likes of More Of That and Faugheen over hurdles. He goes well fresh so gets a tentative vote.
Kings Lad (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up, not fluent 3rd, outpaced before 5 out, well beaten 4 out, 7th of 12, dist behind Little Jon (10-10) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Royal Regatta (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Mid-division, jumped right and lost place 2nd, some progress and went 5th 4 out, never any chance with leaders, well beaten from 3 out, 5th of 12, 28 3/4l behind Little Jon (10-10) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Mala Beach (IRE) 9-4 (11-4) Chased leaders in 3rd, fell 9th, at Thurles 2m 6f lst (1) sft in Nov.
Voix D'Eau (FR) 7-4fav (11-11) Held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, led narrowly before and blundered 2 out, hard pressed last, kept on well towards finish, driven out, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Off The Ground (11-8) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Horizontal Speed (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, jumped left 1st, mistake 4th, blundered 11th, lost touch 5 out, tailed off, modest 4th, 4th of 5, dist behind Smad Place (11-9) at Kempton 2m 4f (2) gd in Nov.
Blue Fashion (IRE) 28-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, pushed along after 5 out, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before last, at Aintree 3m (1) gd in Apr.