held up behind leaders, jumped right 2nd, not fluent 3rd or 6th, mistake 4 out, given time to recover, ridden and closed after 2 out, every chance when mistake last, rider unseated soon after
tracked leader, not fluent 2nd (water), mistake next, lost 2nd next, ridden in 6th and beaten approaching 4 out, no impression, left 4th last
held up, headway 5th, led 4 out, pecked when strongly challenged last, driven out
held up in rear, closed after 8th, 3rd 3 out, driven after 2 out, not fluent last, one pace flat
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th, led approaching 4 out, soon headed, stayed close up, every chance last, unable to quicken flat
led, headed approaching 4 out, soon beaten, eased, blundered 2 out
held up in touch on outside, last 5th, lost touch after 8th
All eyes here will be on Captain Chris, who made rapid strides over fences last term and followed up his victory in the Arkle at The Festival by landing a Grade 1 at Punchestown on his final start in the spring. Medermit and Ghizao finished behind the top weight at Cheltenham but both had earlier recorded victories over the Hobbs' gelding, who needed his first run last term. The latter pair can't be ignored receiving weight here but equally interesting is OISEAU DE NUIT. A really tough 2m handicapper, Colin Tizzard's nine-year-old won the ultra-competitive Grand Annual at Cheltenham in March and ran well off a much higher mark at Aintree and Sandown subsequently. He could still be improving and may be allowed to start at generous odds in this. Colm Murphy has sent Zaarito over from County Wexford and he was second in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse on his only start last winter. He makes more appeal than Cornas, well beaten off this mark in the race 12 months ago, and the outclassed Thunder Child.
Captain Chris (IRE) 4-6fav (11-12) Raced in 2nd, not fluent 4th, improved on inner to lead 4 out, pressed straight, drifted left approaching last, stayed on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m nov chs G1 (1) gs in May beating Realt Dubh (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Ghizao (GER) 3-1 (11-4) Tracked winner, challenged 3 out, bad mistake and left rival clear 2 out, closed under pressure when not fluent last, stayed on, held flat, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Finian's Rainbow (11-4) at Aintree 2m nov chs G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Medermit (FR) 15-8fav (11-4) Held up in touch, chased winner before 9th, mistake 5 out, kept on from 3 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Wishfull Thinking (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) gs in Apr.
Oiseau de Nuit (FR) 4-1 (11-2) Chased leading trio, went 3rd before 3rd, went 2nd before 2 out, challenged and chance 2 out, stayed on same pace before last, no impression when lost 2 places flat, 4th of 6, 4l behind French Opera (11-2) at Sandown 2m chs G2 (1) gf in Apr.
Cornas (NZ) (10-3) 2nd of 11 Formosa Joana Has (10-7) at Enghien(FR) 2m 3f chs sft in Oct.
Zaarito (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Tracked leader in 2nd, challenged from 4 out, disputed briefly after 2 out, no chance with winner run-in, kept on one pace under pressure, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Golden Silver (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Dec.
Thunder Child 13-2 (11-0) Led, reminders after 9th, hit next, mistake 11th, headed next, lost place 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 9, 35l behind Life Of A Luso (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf in May.
