with leaders, not fluent 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, 5th and held when left 3rd and hampered 2 out, kept on same pace
led, headed 9th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 2 out
in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, one paced after
prominent until blundered 2nd, behind and outpaced from 8th
in touch and not fluent 1st, reminders and slightly outpaced after 4th, hit 8th, behind and ridden when hampered 2 out, stayed on
behind, pecked badly 2nd, headway 6th, mistake 8th, soon ridden, weakened
tracked leaders, prominent 6th, led 9th, going well when fell 2 out
always in touch, mistake 4 out, smooth headway approaching next, challenging when left clear 2 out, ran on
held up, headway approaching 4 out, 4th and ridden when left 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner after
in touch, slightly hampered 5th, prominent 8th, ridden and every chance when fell 2 out
The feature event of the second day has drawn a fascinating clash with the winners of the last two renewals - Edredon Bleu and Flagship Uberalles - taking on the young pretender to the two-mile Champion crown, Moscow Flyer. The latter put up one of the most impressive novice chase performances in recent memory when a breathtaking winner of the Arkle twelve months ago and has done little to suggest that he can't add this prestigious prize to his tally of top jumping honours. Jessica Harrington's charge has won all eight of his completed starts over fences and could hardly be blamed when unseating his rider in the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December as he was badly hampered. The nine-year-old resumed winning ways in graded company at Leopardstown and Punchestown subsequently and, barring mishaps, should be the one to beat. The Paul Nicholls-trained Kadarann took the measure of his better fancied stablemate, Cenkos, in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury last month but the latter was far from fully wound up on that occasion and can reverse the placings on 6lb better terms. Tiutchev is not the most consistent of performers but confirmed his well being with a fluent victory at Ascot last time and will be no pushover if repeating the form while Latalomne looked unlucky when falling in this last year and is no forlorn hope at decent odds.
