led to 4 out, ridden before last, kept on and always well held by winner
held up towards rear, soon tracked leaders, not fluent 10th, went 2nd 7 out, led 4 out, clear from 2 out, ridden run-in
in touch, weakened from 11th, tailed off, pulled up
in touch, mistake 10th, soon weakened, pulled up before 5 out
tracked leaders, weakened before 4 out
in rear, headway before 10th, went 3rd before 4 out, weakened before next
NonRunner
A fine turnout and much will depend on just how forward Coneygree is after his enforced absence. The 2015 Gold Cup winner remains a fencer of tremendous potential if all is well with him after just five runs - all successes - over fences. If he's somewhere near his best he should win but SEEYOUATMIDNIGHT (NAP) is the one horse in the line-up who also screams potential and jumped quite beautifully when easily dealing with Bristol De Mai on reappearance. He has to improve significantly to prove good enough but his jumping and love of deep ground make him a chance worth taking at the prices. Cue Card now needs to prove himself again after his Charlie Hall third behind Irish Cavalier and neither can be discounted. Vezelay needs to improve, Menorah will not find conditions to his liking surely and it could well be that Silviniaco Conti will emerge yet again as a main player with that solid Down Royal second to Valseur Lido under his belt.
Coneygree 1-4fav (11-11) Jumped well, made all, clear and in control from 13th, unchallenged, won at Sandown 3m lst (1) gs in Nov beating Seventh Sky (11-5) by 25l, 3 ran.
Cue Card 8-11fav (11-10) Held up, in touch, headway to dispute lead 11th, led 14th, headed 3 out, ridden after next, kept on and every chance when not fluent last, no extra in 3rd flat, 3rd of 7, 3 1/4l behind Irish Cavalier (11-6) at Wetherby 3m (1) gd in Oct.
Irish Cavalier (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) In touch, on outside, not fluent 3rd, chased front pair after 5 out, led 3 out, ridden after next, hard pressed last, kept on well under pressure flat, won at Wetherby 3m (1) gd in Oct beating Menorah (11-10) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Seeyouatmidnight 15-8 (11-12) Jumped well, made all from sole rival, pressed 3 out, driven and quickened before next, 3 lengths clear last, well in command when ridden out flat, won at Carlisle 2m 4f lst (1) gs in Oct beating Bristol De Mai (11-12) by 12l, 2 ran.
Silviniaco Conti (FR) 11-4 (11-10) Disputed lead and led from 3rd, pushed along and headed approaching 2 out, no impression on winner before last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 11l behind Valseur Lido (11-10) at Down Royal 3m (1) gd in Nov.
Vezelay (FR) (10-5) 2nd of 11, 2l behind Solway (10-10) at Auteuil 2m 3f lst sft in Oct.
Menorah (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, on inside, lost place before 11th, soon outpaced, driven to chase leaders again after 5 out, ridden after next, rallied last, stayed on to chase winner flat, held near finish, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Irish Cavalier (11-6) at Wetherby 3m (1) gd in Oct.
