led, not fluent 6th, headed 9th, blundered and lost 3rd 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
led in start, held up in rear, struggling 9th disputed moderate 3rd before 3 out, kept on same pace, no chance with leading pair
tracked leader from 3rd, led 9th, headed 3 out, outpaced in clear 2nd when stumbled before next, soon ridden, no chance with impressive winner between last 2
tracked leader to 3rd, close up in 3rd when blundered and unseated rider next
tracked leaders, left 3rd at 4th, went 2nd when mistake 4 out, led going well 3 out, drew clear on bit after next, impressive
chased leaders, outpaced when left 3rd briefly 4 out, weakened before next
held up in touch, went moderate 3rd after 4 out, kept on same pace, no chance with front pair
Former champion Sizing Europe has won all five starts since unluckily losing his title to Finian's Rainbow here 12 months ago. He's clearly still a smart performer and has only finished out of the first two twice in 21 starts over fences and he was third on those occasions. But not many expect Henry De Bromhead's 11-year-old to be able to match strides with SPRINTER SACRE. Brilliant when beating Cue Card in last year's Arkle Chase, he's been just as impressive this season in extending his unbeaten record over fences and left today's rivals Somersby and Sanctuaire trailing in his wake in the re-scheduled Victor Chandler Chase here in January having earlier treated the latter with disdain in the Tingle Creek at Sandown. It's difficult to make a serious case for any of the others as Game Spirit winner Wishfull Thinking is comfortably held by Sanctuaire and Somersby on earlier form and all of the supplemented Mail De Bievre's best form in France is over further. Tataniano is likely to be outclassed.
Mail De Bievre (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Led 2nd, ridden and joined 4 out, headed next and dropped to 3rd, weakened and no chance with leading duo when lost 3rd last, dropped to 5th close home, 5th of 8, 26l behind Silviniaco Conti (11-10) at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Sanctuaire (FR) 6-1 (11-7) Led in start, held up in rear, not fluent 8th, headway to track leading pair after 4 out, driven and one pace approaching 2 out, never on terms, weakened into 4th last, 4th of 7, 30l behind Sprinter Sacre (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m chs G1 (1) hvy in Jan.
Sizing Europe (IRE) 1-8fav (11-12) Made all, clear early, reduced advantage 3rd, pushed out to assert before last, kept on strongly, comfortably, won at Punchestown 2m chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb beating Foildubh (11-4) by 10l, 5 ran.
Somersby (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, not fluent 4 out, effort after next, never able to challenge, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 6, 8l behind Cue Card (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f chs G1 (1) sft in Feb.
Sprinter Sacre (FR) 1-5fav (11-7) Tracked clear leader before 2nd, close up 5th, led 7th, made rest, drew clear on bit when pecked slightly 2 out, unchallenged, won at Cheltenham 2m chs G1 (1) hvy in Jan beating Mad Moose (11-7) by 14l, 7 ran.
Tataniano (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, bumped 5th, not fluent 8th or 10th, ridden 11th, mistake 5 out, soon well behind, tailed off, 7th of 10, 46l behind Bless The Wings (10-11) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Nov.
Wishfull Thinking 4-1 (11-6) Held up in last pair, steady headway 9th, went 3rd on inside soon after 2 out, plenty to do when not fluent last, strong run under pressure to lead final 100 yards, won going away, won at Newbury 2m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb beating French Opera (11-0) by 2l, 6 ran.
