tracked leading pair, went 2nd 3rd, led 12th until 17th, led again 3 out, headed approaching the last, stayed on same pace run-in, weakened into 3rd final 150 yards
kept out wide, tracked leader until 3rd, raced in close 3rd, awkward 8th, mistake 14th, led approaching the last, ridden and went clear run in, finished tired but in no danger
held up last, went remote 4th towards finish, never involved
led until 12th, chased leader, led again 17th until 3 out, chased leader, ridden and lost 2nd before next, kept on run-in, went 2nd final 150 yards, no chance with winner
raced keenly in 4th place, mistake 13th (water), mistake 16th, outpaced and struggling 4 out, weakened into 5th towards finish
Santini, the Gold Cup runner-up in 2020, ran well for a long way here on his first start for Polly Gundry and is no forlorn hope. Simply The Betts has run well in a couple of tough handicaps over 2m4f here this season but was pulled up in between over 3m1f at Aintree and stamina is a big concern. CHANTRY HOUSE never looked like winning when starting favourite for the King George at Kempton but appeared to lose confidence after an early mistake which saw him trapped out wide. He is a lot better than that and should recoup losses here, though Aye Right is almost certain to run his race again and is a top-class handicapper.
Aye Right (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Prominent, led 4th, headed 9th, 3 lengths clear 2 out, not fluent last, reduced lead flat, clung on, won at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) gs in Nov beating Good Boy Bobby (10-9) by hd, 12 ran.
Chantry House (IRE) 3-1fav (11-10) Never jumped with any fluency, chased leaders out wide, mistake and lost place 9th, tailed off when mistake 12th, pulled up before next, at Kempton 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Kauto Riko (FR) 20-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, outpaced 13th, well beaten from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Santini 6-1 (11-12) Chased winner and clear of field, hit 16th, pushed along and tried to close before 3 out, soon no impression, lost 2nd before 2 out, blundered last, weakened into 4th run-in, 4th of 9, dist behind Commodore (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Simply The Betts (IRE) 17-2 (11-10) Prominent, led 12th, headed before 4 out, led 3 out, headed 2 out, still pressing winner flat, no impression final 50 yards, 2nd of 16, 1 3/4l behind Vienna Court (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
