held up in touch, switched inside and headway 4 out, chased leader after next, switched right to challenge 2 out, ridden to lead after last, stayed on well flat
with leader on inside, ridden and lost place after 3 out, weakened from next
with leaders on outside, led 8th, hard pressed 2 out, soon ridden, headed after last, kept on same pace under pressure flat, no extra towards finish
held up in touch, headway to chase leading pair when blundered 4 out, ridden after next, kept on until one pace and no impression approaching last
held up in last trio, struggling 8th, weakened 3 out
held up in last trio, 7th and ridden 4 out, headway under pressure to chase leaders on inside approaching 2 out, kept on same pace flat, never reached leaders
mid-division on inside, chased leaders 3 out, effort and every chance next, soon ridden and kept on same pace, no impression with leading pair flat
held up in last trio, hit 3rd, switched outside 7th (water), ridden and outpaced 4 out, never on terms, weakened next, tailed off
led to 8th, chased leaders, weakened 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders, hit 3rd, lost place when hit 5th, behind from next, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before next
Ghizao beat Captain Chris here and at Newbury before the turn of the year and is clearly a useful novice. But Philip Hobbs' seven-year-old has improved as he has gained experience and will relish the likely fast pace in this more than most. He recorded a bloodless victory over two rivals at Kempton last month but still appears to have a bit to find with MEDERMIT on earlier running in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown. Alan King's grey has had a rather stop-start career over fences so far but will be a tough nut to crack today if he's on song and it's in his favour that he's run well twice over hurdles at The Festival in previous years. Finian's Rainbow was far from impressive when beating Stagecoach Pearl at Warwick last time, however, while Dan Breen and West With The Wind may be out of their depth. Irish raider Realt Dubh could also struggle to match strides with some of these but it would be no surprise to see Rock Noir run well back over 2m.
Captain Chris (IRE) 2-5fav (11-0) Tracked leader, jumped well, led 7th, clear approaching last, ran on well, impressive, won at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) gs in Feb beating Adams Island (11-4) by 13l, 3 ran.
Dan Breen (IRE) 15-8 (11-3) Led, hit 4 out, over 1 length ahead when went left last, driven edged right and carried runner up right final 150 yards, just held on, all out, (disqualified, placed 2nd), in a race won by Dan Breen (11-3) at Sandown 2m nov chs (2) sft in Feb, 3 ran.
Finian's Rainbow (IRE) 2-5fav (11-4) Took keen hold, not always fluent, tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th, soon led, shaken up when left clear after 2 out, won at Warwick 2m nov chs G2 (1) gs in Feb beating Stagecoach Pearl (11-7) by 11l, 4 ran.
Ghizao (GER) 11-4 (11-10) Chased leading pair, led going well 4 out, 2 lengths ahead last, stayed on well to draw clear flat, won at Newbury 2m 2f nov chs (3) gs in Dec beating Captain Chris (11-0) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
Giorgio Quercus (FR) 11-4 (11-3) Chased winner, not fluent 10th, switched right to challenge on inside before 3 out, 1 length down when ridden approaching last, strong challenge and upsides when carried right final 150 yards, bumped close home, just failed, (awarded race), won at Sandown 2m nov chs (2) sft in Feb beating Dan Breen (11-3) by shd, 3 ran.
Medermit (FR) 5-2fav (11-4) Mid-division, headway 7th, led soon after 3 out, driven flat, held on, won at Sandown 2m 4f nov chs G1 (1) gd in Feb beating Captain Chris (11-4) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Realt Dubh (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, headway in 3rd 3 out, left 2nd 2 out, travelled well entering straight, led before last, ridden and challenged last, disputed run-in, just prevailed close home, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f nov chs G1 (1) sft in Jan beating Noble Prince (11-12) by shd, 6 ran.
Rock Noir (FR) 15-2 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 7th, blundered 12th, not fluent next, ridden 3 out, stayed on same pace last, 4th of 9, 8l behind Medermit (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f nov chs G1 (1) gd in Feb.
Stagecoach Pearl 6-1 (11-7) Led until 7th, soon ridden, outpaced and no impression in 3rd 2 out, left 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 11l behind Finian's Rainbow (11-4) at Warwick 2m nov chs G2 (1) gs in Feb.
West With The Wind 7-1 (11-12) Always prominent, left in lead 9th, hard driven when jumped left
