held up in touch in 4th, blundered 4th, pushed along and effort to press leaders 4 out, every chance before 2 out, weakened last, eased
tracked leader from 1st, challenging when not fluent 4 out, no impression on winner before last, stayed on same pace and lost 2nd flat
held up in last, outpaced before 4 out, rallied before last, stayed on and went 2nd flat, no impression on winner
tracked leader until 1st, close up after, challenged 4 out, led after 3 out, clear when hit last and pecked, ridden out
led, joined 4 out, mistake 3 out, soon headed, one pace from next, no extra flat
Nonrunner
The roll of honour in this includes the likes of Flagship Uberalles, Best Mate and Cue Card. GOD'S OWN has 5lb more to carry than when landing it by five lengths last year but has probably been aimed at the race again and can become the first since Edredon Bleu in 2003 to record back-to-back victories. Court Minstrel has been in terrific form over hurdles lately and could go close if translating that form back to fences. The 2014 Champion Chase winner Sire De Grugy has plenty of weight but would be hard to leave out of calculations while Vibrato Valtat beat Dunraven Storm and Court Minstrel in a Grade 1 at Sandown in December, though both of that pair are better off at the weights. Third Intention made a promising reappearance at Chepstow but has struggled in this grade in the past.
Sire De Grugy (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Held up behind, fell 6th, at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr.
God's Own (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Tracking leaders when fell 2nd, at Sandown 2m (1) gd in Apr.
Third Intention (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Close up, stumbled on bend from stands, led 4 out, ridden before last, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, nk behind Astracad (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Vibrato Valtat (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, badly hampered 2nd, well behind in last pair, in touch 10th, plugging on disputing modest 4th from 3 out, went 4th post, never able to recover, 4th of 7, 14 3/4l behind Special Tiara (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) gd in Apr.
Dunraven Storm (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway 9th, went 3rd from 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 12, 5 1/4l behind Boondooma (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Court Minstrel (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, led flat, ran on well, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) gd in Oct beating Rock The Kasbah (10-8) by 2l, 17 ran.