held up in touch, not fluent 3 out, went 2nd approaching last, still close 3rd when not fluent at hurdle, no impression on winner after, kept on same pace
held up in touch, fell 7th
mid-division, mistake 8th, headway 9th, ridden after 2 out, 6th and no chance with leaders when eased and pulled up before last
held up, not fluent 5th, steady headway from 8th, ridden and disputing close 3rd 2 out, 4th and one pace before last, no impression
held up towards rear, ridden after 7th, well behind after 3 out
tracked leaders, challenged after 3 out, led after 2 out, went 3rd lengths clear off home bend, jumped slowly last, soon headed, no impression on winner flat, kept on same pace
led until after 4th, stayed prominent, led again 8th, headed after 2 out, 5th and weakening when fell last
mid-division, ridden after 6th, lost place from next, well beaten 3 out, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened before 2 out where mistake
mid-division, lost place before 6th, well behind 3 out, pulled up before next
took keen hold, held up in rear, hampered 8th, behind next, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, lost place before 2nd, ridden and struggling after 6th, behind 9th, pulled up before last
in touch, ridden and lost place 7th, fell next
mid-division on outside, headway approaching 7th, tracking leaders when hit 2 out, soon beaten, eased heavily and pulled up before last
mid-division, headway 9th, pushed along after 3 out, lost place before next, well beaten when hampered last
prominent, mistake 1st, lost place approaching 3 out, soon behind, pulled up before last
took keen hold, prominent, led 4th, hit 8th and headed, weakened before 2 out
held up, headway approaching 2 out, switched left and went close 2nd last, soon led, stayed on well to draw clear final 150 yards
Nonrunner
Briar Hill powered clear to win last year's Champion Bumper and has won all three starts over timber, though only beat one rival in a Grade 1 at Naas on his penultimate run and had only two in opposition at Naas last time. The step up to 3m should suit, however, and he'll probably be sent off a short-priced favourite given his yard's form. But there has to be better value elsewhere in what looks a terrific contest packed with promising stayers. Captain Cutter is also unbeaten over hurdles and a Grade 1 winner while Champagne West beat Deputy Dan at Warwick in December and has won both starts since. Deputy Dan has since beaten Masters Hill in a Grade 2 at Warwick but would have preferred a softer surface. Mosspark is another unbeaten gelding and arrives off the back of a Listed victory at Huntingdon while Urban Hymn showed plenty of resolution to beat Blakemount and Sausalito Sunrise in a Grade 2 at Doncaster and isn't without a chance. KINGS PALACE has avoided the recent heavy going as he was put away after beating Masters Hill by 14 lengths here in December with a bold, front-running performance. He bounces off this good ground, jumps well and stays so looks the complete package and is a value alternative against the favourite.
Apache Jack (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Led, clear at 3rd, reduced advantage from 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on under pressure from last, 2nd of 3, 2 1/4l behind Briar Hill (11-10) at Naas 2m 4f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Briar Hill (IRE) 1-3fav (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, pushed along after 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, stayed on well under pressure run-in, won at Naas 2m 4f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Jan beating Apache Jack (11-3) by 2 1/4l, 3 ran.
Captain Cutter (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Took keen hold and waited with in rear, smooth headway on inside to track leaders before 3 out, went left and hit 3 out, went 2nd approaching 2 out, led before last, ridden clear, won at Newbury 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) hvy in Dec beating Timesremembered (11-7) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Champagne West (IRE) 11-8fav (11-12) Held up in rear, smooth headway to 4th and hit 7th, led 4 out, not fluent 2 out, soon drew clear, kept up to work run in, won at Ascot 2m 6f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) hvy in Jan beating Knock House (11-8) by 4l, 7 ran.
Cogry 4-6fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, led before 2 out, clear before last, won at Warwick 2m 3f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) sft in Feb beating Pink Gin (11-8) by 6l, 7 ran.
Deputy Dan (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway after 6th, challenged after 8th, led 3 out, clear before next, comfortably, won at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) hvy in Jan beating Masters Hill (11-4) by 9l, 8 ran.
Kings Palace (IRE) 10-11fav (11-7) Made all, jumped well, clear last, impressive, won at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl G2 (1) gd in Dec beating Masters Hill (11-4) by 14l, 7 ran.
Madness Light (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Led or disputed lead until lost place after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next, in a race won by Red Sherlock (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan, 6 ran.
Masters Hill (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Prominent, led 8th, headed and not fluent 3 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Deputy Dan (11-4) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Mosspark (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Tracked leader, not fluent 3rd, led approaching 3 out, soon headed, ridden and led again after 3 out, clear from 2 out, went right last, edged left flat, stayed on, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f Listed nov hdl (1) sft in Feb beating Spirit Of Shankly (11-7) by 5l, 5 ran.
Prince Siegfried (FR) 20-1 (11-7) Held up in 5th, not fluent 3rd, raced wide on back straight, pushed along after 3 out, weakened before next, last of 6, 22l behind Royal Boy (11-7) at Kempton 2m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Jan.
Regal Diamond (IRE) 5-6fav (11-4) Led, jumped slowly 1st, headed next, led after 5th, headed when not fluent 6th, ridden after 7th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Sybarite (11-4) at Ludlow 3m mdn hdl (4) hvy in Feb, 5 ran.
Rydon Pynes 9-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, headway to chase leaders after 5th, hit 4 out, challenged 3 out, led soon after, over 2 lengths ahead but ridden approaching last, joined flat, headed and no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Upswing (11-1) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) hvy in Feb.
Saint Roque (FR) 2-1 (11-4) Always handy, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden and not pace of winner over 1f out, lost 2nd and stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Sign Of A Victory (11-4) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.
Sausalito Sunrise (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Held up behind, ridden before 2 out, kept on and no impression, 5th of 7, 17l behind Urban Hymn (11-10) at Doncaster 3m nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan.
The Job Is Right 13-2 (11-8) Prominent, slight mistake 1st, weakened and eased before straight, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Don Poli (10-13) at Clonmel 3m nov hdl Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb, 10 ran.
Urban Hymn (FR) 9-4fav (11-10) Led, pressed from 3 out, not fluent last, headed last 75 yards, rallied to regain lead post, won at Doncaster 3m nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan beating Blakemount (11-10) by shd, 7 ran.
Very Wood (FR) 10-3 (11-0) In touch in last, slight mistake 3 out and soon ridden, no impression on leaders from next, kept on without threatening from last, last of 3, 3l behind Briar Hill (11-10) at Naas 2m 4f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Port Melon (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, headway when not fluent 2 out, effort and every chance between last 2, kept on same pace, no impression with front pair flat, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Creepy (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl G2 (1) gd in Nov.
Blakemount (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, challenged 3 out, ridden before last, led last 75 yards, caught post, 2nd of 7, shd behind Urban Hymn (11-10) at Doncaster 3m nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan.
