chased leader, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened last
held up in touch, ridden and effort 16th, weakened approaching 2 out, behind when pulled up before last
held up, headway approaching 12th, went 3rd approaching 4 out, ridden before next, weakened quickly after 2 out
held up, mistake 11th, headway 3 out, ridden to chase winner approaching last, stayed on flat, never able to challenge
held up, not fluent 9th, jumped right 11th, headway when mistake 3 out, ridden and weakened next
made all, not fluent 2nd, mistake next and 14th, ridden after 2 out, ran on gamely flat
in touch, headway 15th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakening when hit next, soon no extra
tracked leaders, reminders approaching 14th, soon struggling, behind from 16th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
prominent, mistake and pecked 9th, weakened 12th, behind when pulled up before 14th
The ante-post markets have been dominated by Keen Leader and Jair du Cochet and both have put up high-class performances over fences this term. Jair du Cochet, a top-graded hurdler, has won four of his five starts over the larger obstacles, including an impressive display of jumping to land the Grade 1 novice at Kempton's Boxing Day meeting from the ill-fated Le Sauvignon. Guillaume Macaire's gelding suffered his only defeat over the larger obstacles when unseating his rider in the race eventually won by Keen Leader in the Reynoldstown at Ascot last month. The latter had previously scored in a hack canter in a Grade 2 at Wetherby but is also prone to making the odd mistake and was a faller on his chasing debut here in November so the vote goes to It Takes Time. Martin Pipe's charge has progressed well over fences and his performance when landing a Haydock novice event in January indicates he could develop in to a leading Gold Cup contender of the future. The son of Montelimar jumps soundly and stays well and will be fresher than most having had a light campaign so gets the vote, with the consistent Barrow Drive the best of the remainder.
