never better than mid-division, behind from 11th, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
led, headed narrowly 9th, with leader, pushed along after 3 out (usual 4 out), soon lost place, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, chased leaders 3 out (usual 4 out), outpaced on long run before 2 out, soon ridden, never on terms, weakened and pulled up turning in
held up behind, headway on long run before 2 out, kept on same pace, never nearer
mistake 1st, held up behind, headway after 3 out (usual 4 out), switched outside to challenge turning in, every chance when fell 2 out
hampered 2nd, in rear, headway under pressure on long run before 2 out, stayed on to take 4th near finish, never nearer
in touch, driven to chase leaders after 3 out (usual 4 out), outpaced when left 4th 2 out, no danger after, lost 2 places near finish
tracked leaders, pushed along after 3 out (usual 4 out), weakened on long run before 2 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, blundered and unseated rider 5th
held up, headway and in touch on inside 8th, went 2nd after 3 out (usual 4 out), led 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on well under pressure flat, just held on
held up towards rear, weakened 3 out (usual 4 out), soon pulled up
tracked leaders, driven and lost place after 3 out (usual 4 out), weakened on long run before 2 out, tailed off
held up behind, blundered and unseated rider 2nd
held up mid-division, headway 3 out (usual 4 out), every chance when left 2nd 2 out, soon ridden, kept on towards finish, not quite reach winner
mid-division on inside, hit 5th, lost place 8th, lost touch when blundered 11th, pulled up before next
tracked leader, led narrowly 9th, headed 2 out, ridden and no extra after last, weakened flat
chased leaders to 11th, weakened quickly and pulled up before next
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Fully recovered from injury and having his first start since wind surgery, SLATE HOUSE returned the impressive winner of a novice chase over course and distance on his reappearance. Colin Tizzard’s charge could still prove ahead of the handicapper despite a hike in the weights and testing ground is not a problem. Siruh Du Lac has won six of eight starts over fences culminating in a couple of victories in Grade 3 handicaps on the New course here and had Spiritofthegames back in third last time though the latter re-opposes on better terms. Top weight Saint Calvados is upped in distance having won over these fences last month while Count Meribel landed a novice chase over track and trip at last year’s fixture and has a recent run under his belt as does Us And Them. The latter finished runner-up in four consecutive Grade 1 novice contests last season including the Arkle here and Joseph O’Brien’s charge is preferred to Highway One O One while Guitar Pete finished ahead of Eamon An Cnoic and 2017 winner Splash of Ginge when third in last year’s renewal and beat Happy Diva at Wetherby earlier in the month.
Us And Them (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Led and disputed, led 7th, pressed entering straight, joined 3 out, ridden before next, headed before last where bad mistake, no extra, disputed 2nd run-in, 3rd close home, 3rd of 8, 6 1/2l behind Snow Falcon (11-8) at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Oct.
Siruh Du Lac (FR) 9-2 (10-11) Made all, driven and hard pressed before 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on gamely flat, always just holding runner-up, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar beating Janika (11-12) by 3/4l, 22 ran.
Spiritofthegames (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders on inside from 3rd, blundered 10th, pushed along next, blundered 5 out, soon ridden and unable to go with clear trio, no danger after, lost modest 4th before last, 5th of 6, 32 3/4l behind Kalashnikov (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gs in Apr.
Magic Saint (FR) 4-6fav (11-12) Chased leaders, niggled along after 2nd, went 2nd before 5 out, looked held 2 out, threatened briefly last, no impression flat, 2nd of 4, 5l behind Sizing Platinum (11-8) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Slate House (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Held up in 4th, tracked leaders going well after 3 out (usual 4 out), led on bit on long run before 2 out, clear last, easily, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) hvy in Oct beating Garo De Juilley (11-3) by 11l, 6 ran.
Belami Des Pictons (FR) 11-4fav (11-12) Chased leaders, 2nd at the 6th, led 11th, headed approaching and mistake 3 out, weakened quickly, pulled up before the last, at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Count Meribel 9-2 (11-2) Tracked winner, ridden before last, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Lostintranslation (11-8) at Carlisle 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Nov.
Mercian Prince (IRE) 2-1 (11-4) Jumped right on occasions, made all, went clear 3 out, ridden between last 2, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr beating Romain De Senam (11-2) by 3l, 3 ran.
Highway One O One (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Led, soon joined, not fluent 3 out, challenged next, headed last, soon rallied, kept on into 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3 1/4l behind Chapmanshype (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Happy Diva (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Raced keenly tracking leaders, went 2nd 10th, led 4 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, stayed on same pace in 2nd, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Guitar Pete (10-9) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Demi Sang (FR) 18-1 (11-3) Held up, jumped slowly 2nd, steady headway before 4 out, hung left and plugged on in 3rd from 2 out, 3rd of 8, 6 1/4l behind Guitar Pete (10-9) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Guitar Pete (IRE) 7-2fav (10-9) Held up in 6th, hit 11th, good headway on outside chasing leaders before 4 out, close 2nd 3 out, led before 2 out, stayed on well run-in, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) gs in Nov beating Happy Diva (11-2) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Eamon An Cnoic (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Chased leaders early, 8th approaching halfway, pecked 6th, slight mistake 4 out, no extra from before straight, 10th of 12, dist behind Snugsborough Hall (10-1) at Punchestown 2m hcp Yielding in May.
Brelan D'As (FR) 5-1 (10-9) Mid-division, disputing 5th when blundered and unseated rider 3 out (usual 4 out), at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
Springtown Lake (IRE) 9-1 (10-1) Held up mid-division, effort 15th, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 16, 22 3/4l behind Vinndication (11-0) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Warthog (FR) 100-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, hampered 18th, struggling after 5 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Cheltenham 4m (1) sft in Mar.
Splash of Ginge 10-1 (10-8) Chased leaders until pushed along and weakened 4 out, 6th of 8, 24 1/2l behind Guitar Pete (10-9) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Saint Calvados (FR) 5-2fav (11-12) Held up mid-division, hit 3rd, took closer order 8th, went 2nd going well after 3 out (usual 4 out), shaken up to lead approaching last, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, all out, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) hvy in Oct beating Vaniteux (10-0) by 1l, 11 ran.
Royal Village (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, led 4 out, challenged after next, headed flat, no extra closing stages, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Copper West (10-0) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Dell Oro (FR) 5-4 (11-12) Led until 9th, weakened before 4 out, last of 3, dist behind Valseur Du Granval (10-7) at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
