held up mid-division in touch, headway 4 out, chased leader 2 out, switched inside to challenge before last, soon ridden and every chance, wandered flat, no extra final 110 yards
prominent, outpaced 4 out, weakened next, behind when mistake and unseated rider last
raced wide, held up in touch, outpaced when mistake 4 out, weakened next
held up mid-division in touch, mistake 13th, lost place 17th, weakened 3 out
led to after 3rd, tracked leaders, lost place 13th, plugged on from 2 out, no chance with leaders
tracked leaders, lost place and dropped towards rear when blundered and unseated rider 17th
patiently ridden off the pace in rear, driven and headway 3 out, chased leaders on inside next, switched right approaching last, ridden and stayed on to lead flat, edged right towards finish, just held on
tracked leaders, headway to join leaders 3 out, every chance on inside when blundered next, soon ridden, one pace flat
tracked leaders, led after 3rd, headed narrowly 4 out, driven next, outpaced when went right and bumped 2 out, rallied flat, stayed on and every chance when carried right towards finish, just held
mid-division in touch, tracked leaders 17th, led narrowly 4 out, ridden and hard pressed when edged left flat, soon headed and hung right, no extra
prominent, lost place 4 out, ridden and kept under pressure 2 out, weakened last
held up behind in touch, pushed along 15th, headway under pressure 3 out, chased leaders when bumped next, rallied last, ridden and kept on to press front pair when carried slightly right towards finsh
held up behind in touch, headway 3 out, ridden and one pce when not much room and hampered next, weakened last
Last Instalment certainly looked a class act when beating Tidal Bay in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown last month. First Lieutenant was only third with Lyreen Legend and Lord Windermere further behind and it's difficult to see any of that trio reversing the form here if Philip Fenton's star chaser handles Cheltenham's undulations and the faster surface. But it's very difficult to ignore defending champion BOBS WORTH, who is five from five at the track and has won at each of the last three Festivals. He may not be as big as some of his contemporaries and isn't the greatest of jumpers but he's all heart and will be powering up the hill again as others drop away. His stamina again cane into play in the Lexus Chase last time when out-staying First Lieutenant. Silviniaco Conti was still in touch and going well when falling three out 12 months ago and won the King George in December but he was up against some non-stayers that day. Last year's fourth The Giant Bolster has a good record at The Festival and could have place claims with the ground drying out with the progressive Triolo D'alene possibly the pick of the remainder.
Bobs Worth (IRE) 11-4fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, not fluent 11th and slight mistake 3 out, pushed along in 3rd approaching last,under pressure and led 100 yards out, kept on well, won at Leopardstown 3m chs G1 (1) in Dec beating First Lieutenant (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Cloudy Too (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Prominent, not fluent 7th, led 4 out, headed before 2 out, soon beaten, stayed on one pace, 2nd of 8, 19l behind Captain Chris (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f chs G1 (1) sft in Feb.
Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Held up, not fluent 2nd or 4th, hit 10th, outpaced 15th, rallied last, went 3rd final 100 yards, running on towards finish, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Restless Harry (10-7) at Ascot 3m hcp chs Listed (1) sft in Feb.
Katenko (FR) 9-4 (11-6) Led until ridden after 12th (3 out), soon dropped to 3rd and beaten, tailed off, 3rd of 5, 49l behind Harry Topper (11-10) at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Knockara Beau (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Led to 13th, not fluent next, led again before 4 out, headed before 2 out, still every chance until no extra run-in, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Long Run (10-12) at Kelso 3m 2f chs (2) gs in Feb.
Last Instalment (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Prominent and led from 2nd, asserted approaching straight, stayed on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 3m Grade 1 chs (1) in Feb beating Tidal Bay (11-10) by 9l, 7 ran.
Lord Windermere (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders and 4th halfway, 3rd 3 out, ridden and no extra in 5th early straight, weakened, 6th of 7, 26l behind Last Instalment (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m Grade 1 chs (1) in Feb.
Lyreen Legend (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders and 6th halfway, progress into 3rd 6 out, went 2nd 3 out, no impression on winner entering straight and soon dropped to 4th, no extra run-in, 5th of 7, 14l behind Last Instalment (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m Grade 1 chs (1) in Feb.
On His Own (IRE) 11-8fav (11-3) Disputed lead early, led from 5th and made rest, not fluent 3 out and soon strongly pressed, slight mistake 2 out, soon ridden clear of sole danger, stayed on well from last, won at Fairyhouse 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) in Feb beating Mount Benbulben (11-10) by 12l, 7 ran.
Silviniaco Conti (FR) 7-2 (11-10) Always prominent, hard driven 3 after 3 out, led approaching last, stayed on strongly, won at Kempton 3m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec beating Cue Card (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Teaforthree (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, pecked 1st, led 12th, hit 16th and headed, led again 2 out, headed flat, stayed on gamely, just held, 2nd of 7, nk behind Restless Harry (10-7) at Ascot 3m hcp chs Listed (1) sft in Feb.
The Giant Bolster 6-1 (11-0) With leader until not fluent 4th, tracked leaders, effort to challenge 2 out, led narrowly before last, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan beating Rocky Creek (11-5) by 7l, 7 ran.
Triolo D'Alene (FR) 20-1 (11-1) Held up rear of mid-division, tracked leaders and travelling well from 10th, led 3 out, strongly pressed when hit last, soon joined, stayed on strongly under pressure to assert final 150 yards, won at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov beating Rocky Creek (11-5) by 2 3/4l, 21 ran.
First Lieutenant (IRE) 7-4fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd 2 out, ridden in 2nd and no impression on winner entering straight, under pressure and kept on one pace, no extra run-in and dropped to 3rd close home, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Last Instalment (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m Grade 1 chs (1) in Feb.
