with leaders, led 3rd, blundered and headed 8th, hit 10th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
keen, mid-division, headway 9th, hit 12th, ridden after 3 out, one pace flat
in touch, slightly hampered 4 out, ridden after next, weakened 2 out
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
chased leaders, pecked 11th, mistake 14th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up flat
held up, headway approaching 13th, ridden 2 out, every chance when mistake last, not quicken flat
led to 2nd, lost place and reminders 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
chased leaders, went 2nd 11th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on to lead close home
prominent, led 2nd to 3rd, led again 8th, ridden approaching 2 out, headed close home
keen, in touch, lost place 10th, soon behind
always behind, hit 14th, no chance when fell last
held up, mistake 6th and 10th, ridden after 11th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
Thisthatandtother can prove the value against likely hotpot Our Vic, with Rathgar Beau and Le Roi Miguel best of the rest in the first running of this Grade 2 event. Many will look no further than Our Vic as the answer here as he did appear to be holding the upper hand when falling at the last in the Bonusprint Chase over the course and distance in December. However, it is impossible to say whether he would have actually held on that day, and Thisthatandtother would have surely made more of a race of it anyway had he not clouted the ditch down the far side. In addition, Our Vic found little when beaten into third by Rule Supreme in last year's Royal & SunAlliance Chase, although to be fair, that was over further, but with him having been off the track since December, we feel that he is worth taking on. Thisthatandtother goes well at Cheltenham and has been set some stiff tasks in the past, including when having to concede 10lbs to Celestial Gold in the Paddy Power, and found two miles too short against Well Chief in the Victor Chandler. It is about time this nearly horse gained some reward and with lots going for him today, he is taken to finally come good. Rathgar Beau will be a popular choice with the Irish, having split Kicking King and Beef Or Salmon in the John Durkan at Punchestown before winning three of his last four starts. Connections have bypassed the Queen Mother to go for this but he is a real mudlark and will surely be done for toe even up the hill. Le Roi Miguel gives Paul Nichols a second string to his bow but has never excelled here in the past and will do well to reach the frame. Old Edredon Bleu owes us nothing but his exploits are now confined to memory, while Fondmort has not been the same hors this term. We look to Thisthatandtother as the answer.
Edredon Bleu (FR) 4-1 Led to after 11th, lost touch 14th, tailed off when pulled up at the 16th in race won by Heros Collonges at Wincanton 3m 1f lst chs (A) gs in Feb, 4 ran.
Hand Inn Hand 8-1 Held up and behind, steady headway from 10th, ridden after 3 out, disputed 2nd last, no extra towards finish, 5th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Supreme Prince at Newbury 2m 4f lst hcp chs (A) gs.
Le Roi Miguel (FR) 12-1 Held up and behind, steady headway 12th, no impression and beaten 4 out, 4th of 13, 28l behind Kicking King at Kempton 3m chs Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec.
Native Upmanship (IRE) 7-1 Tracked leader in 2nd, driven along after 4 out, no impression from next, kept on without troubling winner, 2nd of 4, 7l behind Central House at Naas 2m chs Grd 2 (A) sft in Feb.
Our Vic (IRE) 11-4fav Prominent, led 11th, ridden after 3 out, challenged when fell at the last in race won by Monkerhostin at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Dec, 13 ran.
Rathgar Beau (IRE) 4-9fav Held up in touch, not fluent 3rd, close 4th from 6 out, challenged travelling well 3 out, led after 2 out, clear from last, easily, won at Gowran Park 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (A) hvy in Feb beating Barrow Drive by 9l, 5 ran.
Seebald (GER) 6-1 Chased leader until mistake and pulled up at the 9th in race won by It Takes Time at Lingfield 2m 4f chs Grd 1 (A) gs in Feb, 7 ran.
Thisthatandtother (IRE) 2-1fav Held up in touch, hit 5th, ridden and headway before 4 out, challenged 2 out, chased winner before last, one pace run-in, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Well Chief at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Jan.
Fondmort (FR) 66-1 Always behind, 8th of 13, 41l behind Kicking King at Kempton 3m chs Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec.
Mixsterthetrixster (USA) 14-1 Chased leader until 12th, led 13th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next, 4th of 6, 31l behind Distant Thunder at Newbury 3m nov chs (C) gs in Feb.
Risk Accessor (IRE) 5-1 Led, headed 8th, ridden and no impression from 4 out, eased from 2 out, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Rathgar Beau at Clonmel 2m 4f chs Grd 2 sft in Nov.
Valley Henry (IRE) 10-1 Held up in rear, mistake 4th, headway 6th, behind from 12th, 6th of 8, well behind Farmer Jack at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Feb.
