tracked winner until 2nd, 2nd again 4 out, pushed along after 3 out, driven and tried to challenge before the last, held run-in
tracked winner 2nd until 4 out, chased leading pair, mistake 3 out, soon no impression, well outpaced and no chance before 2 out, went left final two
raced keenly, tended to jump left, made all, mistake 11th, travelling well before 2 out, looked pressed when good jump last, ridden out to assert run-in
off the pace in 4th, left behind from 10th, plugged on run-in but never any chance
not fluent and never travelled in rear, tailing off when pulled up after 7th
VAUTOUR has frightened away a lot of the possible opposition and few will want to take on the brilliant JLT Novice Chase winner as he begins the countdown on another assault on the Cheltenham Festival. He has only been beaten once in four runs over fences and has already landed a couple of Grade 1 contests. Haldon Gold Cup second Third Intention is rated 11lb inferior, yet has to concede a pound under these conditions. Ptit Zig won on his reappearance at Down Royal but has to give 5lb to the selection, even though he was beaten more than 18 lengths at Cheltenham in March. The 2014 RSA Chase winner O'Faolains Boy is on the comeback trail having been off the course for 18 months and, along with Seventh Sky, has plenty to find on these terms.
Ptit Zig (FR) 4-5fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, 4th 3 out and pushed along, soon switched left to outer, quickly challenged and led, jumped right 2 out, soon asserted, jumped right again last, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Down Royal 2m 4f Yielding in Oct beating Clarcam (11-12) by 9 1/2l, 8 ran.
Third Intention (IRE) 15-2 (11-3) Held up in last, outpaced before 4 out, rallied before last, stayed on and went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Vibrato Valtat (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Vautour (FR) 6-4fav (11-4) Made virtually all, pushed clear before 2 out, in no danger after, stayed on strongly, driven out flat, impressive, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) gd in Mar beating Apache Stronghold (11-4) by 15l, 8 ran.
Seventh Sky (GER) 25-1 (11-5) Disputed 2nd until 13th, mistake 4 out, 2nd again after 3 out, never any chance with winner, 2nd of 3, 25l behind Coneygree (11-11) at Sandown 3m lst (1) gs in Nov.
O'Faolains Boy (IRE) 3-1fav (11-4) Held up in touch towards rear, jumped slowly 4th, closed before 12th, soon pressing winner, lost 2nd after 4 out, beaten 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 6, 24 1/4l behind Holywell (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gd in Apr.
