led to 10th, chased leaders, outpaced 5 out, weakened from next, tailed off
keen early, in touch, outpaced 11th, soon lost place, behind from 14th, tailed off
disputed 2nd, challenged 10th, led 12th, made rest, driven clear 3 out, in command flat, held on near finish
disputed 2nd, led narrowly 10th, headed 12th, chased winner, outpaced 3 out, soon no impression, lost 2nd last, no extra
held up in touch, tracked leading pair 5 out, driven and outpaced after next, kept on under pressure from 3 out, no impression
held up behind in touch, mistake 8th, outpaced when not fluent 5 out, 5th and still plenty to do next, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd last, ridden and ran on flat, closed on winner towards finish, always held
held up behind in touch, headway and in touch when not fluent 11th, outpaced 4 out, soon beaten
IMPERIAL COMMANDER, a nose second in this last year, can stamp his class on the race. Reported to have come back into the yard fitter than after his previous summer in the field, the Gold Cup hero should be able to ease past his rivals here. His jumping is normally very good, especially when getting into a nice early rhythm and with the ground in his favour, and 22lbs clear of his nearest rival on official ratings, he should ensure the cheers abound in his local pub The Hollow Bottom. What A Friend looks the biggest danger; he is one of several from Ditcheat who could have been sent here and his trainer has high hopes for this dual Grade One winning chaser. Nacarat impressed with his win in the Charlie Hall Chase but this is a much tougher assignment and his main target is the King George VI at Kempton, so a bigger threat today may be Tidal Bay if this enigmatic character consents to put his best foot forward, especially over the fences. Planet Of Sound looks the best of the rest but this is a demanding reappearance.
Atouchbetweenacara (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Tracking leaders when fell 4th, in a race won by Fiendish Flame (11-8) at Bangor 2m 1f grad ch (2) sft, 4 ran.
Chief Dan George (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Always prominent, challenged 3 out, led after next, ridden and headed approaching last, rallied to lead again flat, held on near finish, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar beating The Package (10-9) by hd, 24 ran.
Imperial Commander (IRE) 11-8fav (11-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd, not jump fluently, pushed along approaching 13th, in 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 14th, in a race won by What A Friend (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f chs G1 (1) gs in Apr, 5 ran.
Nacarat (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, challenged 6th, led approaching 4 out, mistake next, driven out, won at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct beating The Tother One (11-0) by 4l, 8 ran.
Planet of Sound 14-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, improved to lead from 7 out, mistake next, strongly pressed straight, stayed on well to go clear run-in, won at Punchestown 3m 1f chs G1 (1) gd in Apr beating War Of Attrition (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Tidal Bay (IRE) 5-2 (11-8) Mid-division, lost ground approaching 8th, went 5th and closing when hit 3 out, soon no impression on leaders, went 3rd last, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Fair Along (11-8) at Wetherby 3m 1f hdl G2 (1) gd in Oct.
What A Friend 5-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders and disputed 3rd, led after 2 out, soon headed narrowly, regained lead last, stayed on well flat, won at Aintree 3m 1f chs G1 (1) gs in Apr beating Carruthers (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
