tracked leader, challenged 5th, pushed along before 4 out, still every chance 2 out, 3rd and no extra last, dropped to 4th flat
tracked leaders, 5th and one pace 4 out, beaten when bad mistake 3 out, weakened
held up in rear, closed after 4th, challenging when blundered 3 out, no impression on winner last, stayed on same pace
took keen hold, prominent, led when mistake 4 out, clear last, stayed on well
held up in rear, in touch on bend befoe 4 out, soon beaten
held up in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 1st, in touch on bend but pushed along before 4 out, no impression and pulled up before fence
took keen hold, led, headed 4 out, 4th and one pace next, plugged on to take 3rd flat but no impression
Somersby won this last year but has 9lb more to carry now and there's a good chance that third Cue Card, who won the race in 2012, will reverse the form on 8lb better terms. God's Own sprang a real surprise when winning the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at Punchestown in the spring when BALDER SUCCES (NAP) was only third. But Alan King's charge didn't give his true running that day and is better judged on his defeat of Tom George's six-year-old over further at Kempton earlier when conceding 7lb. He also beat Hinterland easily at Aintree while Pepite Rose often comes up short at this level.
Cue Card 10-3fav (11-10) Led, hard driven when strongly challenged after 3 out, headed before last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Silviniaco Conti (11-10) at Kempton 3m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec.
Somersby (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Reluctant to go to post, tracked leaders, slight mistakes 6th and 7th, pushed along from next, moderate 5th entering straight, weakened, 5th of 8, 14l behind Sizing Europe (11-12) at Punchestown 2m chs G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Balder Succes (FR) 11-4 (11-10) Always prominent, gained narrow lead and slight mistake 2 out, just headed last, kept on same pace run-in and dropped to 3rd close home, 3rd of 8, 3/4l behind God's Own (11-10) at Punchestown 2m nov chs G1 (1) in May.
God's Own (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, a little slow 3 out, moderate 4th approaching straight, closed to challenge from 2 out, gained narrow lead last, strongly pressed and stayed on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m nov chs G1 (1) in May beating Moscow Mannon (11-10) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Pepite Rose (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Prominent on outside, challenged 3 out, led next, headed last, not much room briefly flat, no extra, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Anquetta (10-4) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in May.
Hinterland (FR) 11-2 (11-4) Held up, pulled hard, niggled along after 4 out, no impression, well beaten from next, jumped right 2 out, virtually pulled up flat, last of 7, well behind Balder Succes (11-4) at Aintree 2m nov chs G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Oscar Hill (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Jumped boldly, set good gallop and clear until not fluent 4 out, headed before next, weakened 2 out, 6th of 8, 30l behind Grey Gold (11-2) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) hvy in Feb.
