tracked leaders, led to 13th, headed next, soon ridden, held in 3rd when fell last, remounted
held up behind leaders, good headway approaching 11th, led to 3 out, ridden approaching last, ran on well flat
held up behind leaders, headway 11th, ridden to chase winner approaching last, kept on but no extra flat
held up behind leaders, headway 11th, ridden after 12th, soon beaten, left 4th last
chased leaders, hit 7th, behind 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
led, mistake 9th, headed next, with leader until weakenend approaching 13th, left 3rd last
Martin Pipe's Tiutchev won this event 12 months ago under similar ground conditions and is taken to follow up with Fondmort and Le Roi Miguel rated the main dangers. The selection has failed to win this term in three starts but ran better than expected on his latest outing when chasing home Edredon Bleu in the King George on Boxing Day. The 11-year-old should be suited by the return to today's trip and needs only to reproduce his best to win again. Fondmort has a bit to find with the selection on King George form but seemed not to stay at Kempton and should do better over the shorter trip. He may have more improvement in him and makes more appeal than the Paul Nicholls-trained Le Roi Miguel. A faller in the King George, the six-year-old showed progressive form last term but has yet to recapture his best this season. The last mentioned holds Impek on running at Punchestown last term, while Hand Inn Hand needs to improve to trouble the main protagonists. Royal Atalza and See You Sometime look to be out of their depth in a race that is taken to go again to Tiutchev.