led, clear before 4 out, joined next, headed before 2 out, no chance with impressive winner, lost 2nd post
chased leaders until blundered and unseated rider 2nd
held up off the pace in 4th, outpaced 11th, stayed on and went 3rd 4 out, took 2nd post, never any chance with impressive winner
held up off the pace in 5th, no chance from 8th, tailed off 11th, pulled up approaching 4 out
tracked leading pair, 2nd travelling well 4 out, led on bit before 2 out, soon quickened right away, impressive
chased leader, hit 2nd, pushed along and lost 2nd approaching and mistake 4 out, weakened into 4th when blundered next, blundered last
well off the pace in rear, no chance from 8th, tailed off 11th, distant 5th when pulled up before 2 out
This looks a hot contest and it may be worth opposing the four-year-old Golden Doyen, who has yet to show a real aptitude for jumping fences and didn't appear to last home when tried over this trip over hurdles. Calipto has a penalty but the Fontwell winner ran well behind Garde La Victoire in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last month and is a danger to all. Tea For Two could figure if handling the switch to fences, though has been below par so far this season. Monbeg Theatre was in good form over the smaller obstacles around this time last year but OSCAR SUNSET has a cracking jumping pedigree and rarely runs a bad race so is preferred. This trip looks ideal and he should give a good account on his first run since April.
Calipto (FR) 4-1fav (11-2) Tracked leading pair, ridden and outpaced in 4th after 3 out, regained 3rd next, one pace when not fluent last, kept on under pressure flat, not reach front pair, 3rd of 4, 3l behind Garde La Victoire (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Nov.
Monbeg Theatre (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 9th, just about still in touch when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, at Aintree 3m (1) gs in Apr.
Oscar Sunset (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Mid-division, tracked leaders 3 out (usual 4 out), challenged 2 out, led between last 2, ridden and kept on flat, won at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Apr beating Lewis (10-4) by 2l, 12 ran.
Pursuitofhappiness (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) In touch, weakened 3 out, blundered next, 7th of 8, 28 1/4l behind Krugermac (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f mdn (3) sft in Nov.
Tea For Two 4-1fav (11-7) Prominent, pushed along before 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 7th of 16, 30 1/2l behind Baradari (11-2) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Golden Doyen (GER) 4-5fav (10-7) Mistakes, tracked winner, hit 1st, jinked left at path on paddock bend and dropped to 3rd before next, not fluent 7th (water), hit 8th, 2nd again after 4 out, hit 3 out, driven and no impression when mistake next, 2nd of 3, 7l behind Ar Mad (11-1) at Sandown 2m (3) gs in Nov.
Hill Forts Gypse (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, reminders halfway, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out, at Fontwell 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Cool George 17-2 (10-0) Held up in rear, struggling 3 out, last of 10, dist behind Henryville (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
