led and pushed along at times, headed 7th (water), lost 2nd and weakened before 3 out, tailed off
held up in 4th on inside, went 2nd before 3 out, stayed on same pace, never any chance with winner
tracked leader, reached for 2nd, led 6th, came clear from 4 out, kept up to work run-in, easily
tracked leading pair until mistake 8th, went 3rd again out wide before 3 out, never any chance with winner
Nube Negra bids to win this race for the third time in a row but it’s fair to say that the calibre of opposition on this occasion is significantly stronger than that he has faced in the past. Edwardstone impressed last year in the Tingle Creek though was a head behind Editeur Du Gite in the rescheduled Clarence House at Cheltenham. He’s very much a player but Arkle second JONBON looks the one to be with and if Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old can avoid any silly mistakes, he will lay down a strong marker as far as the two mile division is concerned.
Editeur Du Gite (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Soon steadied into 4th, pushed along and outpaced home turn, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 32 1/4l behind Elixir De Nutz (10-7) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Edwardstone 15-8 (11-10) Chased leaders, dropped to rear 2nd, hit 6th, left 4th 4 out, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, dist behind Energumene (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Jonbon (FR) 8-13fav (11-10) Sweating, led, narrowly headed when dived at 4th and lost momentum, given time to recover and rallied out wide going well in 3rd before 4 out out, 2nd before next, led before the last, stayed on well run-in, won at Sandown 1m 7f (1) gs in Apr beating Captain Guinness (11-10) by 3 3/4l, 5 ran.
Nube Negra (SPA) 28-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, closed on outside 6th, lost place before 4 out, well behind 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
