chased leaders, effort after 3 out, weakened next
tracked leader, hard driven to challenge before 2 out, kept on well under pressure closing stages, no chance with winner
held up in touch, progress to chase leaders before 2 out, stayed on strongly towards finish
made all, travelled well throughout, shaken up after 2nd last, quickened clear flat, easily
tracked leader, mistake 7th, under pressure after 3 out, weakened after next
Dodging Bullets won this last year before going on to claim the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham and Sire De Grugy did likewise 12 months earlier so whichever of this quintet comes out on top today will be a short price for the big race itself in March. Sire De Grugy is back for another crack and has been more his old self lately. He won the Tingle Creek last month before making Sprinter Sacre pull out all the stops in the Desert Orchid at Kempton and had Vibrato Valtat behind on both occasions. The latter was beaten 13 lengths by UN DE SCEAUX in last year's Arkle, however, and that highlights the chances of Willie Mullins' star two-miler. He probably had matters well in hand when falling at Leopardstown over Christmas and can take his revenge on eventual second Simply Ned today with a clear round. Traffic Fluide will need to be a world-beater to win this on his belated reappearance but will improve on what he achieves.
Simply Ned (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Held up behind leaders, 5th halfway, closer in 3rd before 5 out, left 2nd 2 out, soon improved to lead, ridden to assert before last, tired run-in and strongly pressed, headed closing stages and no extra, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Flemenstar (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) hvy in Dec.
Sire De Grugy (FR) 11-4 (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 6th, challenged 7th, led next but strongly pressed, driven approaching 2 out, mistake and headed last, stayed on, held towards finish, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Sprinter Sacre (11-10) at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Dec.
Traffic Fluide (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 4 out, closed next, every chance 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 6, 3 1/4l behind Sizing Granite (11-4) at Aintree 2m (1) gd in Apr.
Un De Sceaux (FR) 1-4fav (11-12) Led, clear after 3rd, reduced advantage 5 out, 2-length advantage and still travelling well when fell 2 out, at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) hvy in Dec.
Vibrato Valtat (FR) 6-1 (11-6) Tracked leader until 6th, every chance before mistake 3 out, outpaced by front pair after, kept on, 3rd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Sprinter Sacre (11-10) at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Dec.
