tracked leaders, pushed along before 2 out, chased leader before last, ridden to lead run-in, driven out, held on towards finish
led to 2nd, ridden before last, kept on same pace and no impression
tracked leader, led from 2nd, mistake 2 out, ridden and headed run-in, no extra towards finish
in rear and in touch, blundered 2 out, ridden before last, one pace and no impression
IRVING has now won six of his 11 starts since arriving from France including three at Grade 2 level and the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth a year ago. He has failed to fire a couple of times but a breathing operation during the summer looks to have sorted him out and he was very impressive on his reappearance at Wincanton when he had seven lengths to spare over Melodic Rendezvous. Top Notch looked to be on the way to retaining his unbeaten run when leading after the last in the Triumph Hurdle but just failed to hold the late thrust of stablemate Peace And Co. He gets no age allowance here against older horses for the first time and that could just prove his undoing. Fou Et Sage won a Listed contest on heavy ground at Auteuil a year ago and is much better than he showed for Dan Skelton at Cheltenham last month.
Irving 9-2fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, smooth headway into 2nd approaching 2 out, led approaching last, ridden clear run-in, impressive, won at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (1) sft in Nov beating Melodic Rendezvous (11-7) by 7l, 8 ran.
Melodic Rendezvous 11-2 (11-7) Tracked leading pair, 2nd after 3 out, led before next, headed approaching the last, outpaced and no chance with winner run-in, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Irving (11-10) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Top Notch (FR) 7-1fav (11-0) In touch on inside, smooth headway to track leaders 2 out, soon challenged, driven to lead narrowly approaching last, ridden and headed flat, kept on, just held, 2nd of 16, nk behind Peace And Co (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Mar.
Fou Et Sage (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, weakened after 2 out, last of 8, 31 1/2l behind Devilment (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m (2) gd in Oct.