led, not fluent 10th and 11th, headed 4 out, ridden before 2 out, one pace
behind, lost place 5 out, unseated rider last
held up in touch, ridden before 2 out, one pace and no impression
chased leaders, mistake 7th, weakened before 6 out, pulled up
held up towards rear, headway after 5 out, weakened 4 out
in rear, hit 1st, headway before 12th, every chance 2 out, kept on and held run-in
with leaders, led 4 out, not fluent 2 out and pressed, kept on well run-in
mid-division, mistake 6th, weakened from 6 out, pulled up after 5 out
close up, ridden before 4 out, kept on same pace
This could hardly be a better renewal with last year's first three home, Cue Card, Dynaste and SILVINIACO CONTI, the latter successful in 2012, all taking their place alongside Charlie Hall winner and runner-up Menorah and Taquin Du Seuil. Cue Card had his usual prep-run at Exeter earlier this month, his first since suffering a fracture of the pelvis and having a breathing operation. He'll have come on a bundle for the run and will be a different proposition. Dynaste arrived without a prep run a year ago and David Pipe has followed the same path with him. He went on to land the Ryanair at Cheltenham but was twice beaten by Silviniaco Conti, firstly when hugely disappointing in the King George and then when going down narrowly in the Betfred Bowl at Aintree. Paul Nicholls' charge had Menorah 14l behind in the latter event but didn't impress behind Philip Hobbs' nine-year-old at Wetherby. However, his stable in in much better form now and he's taken to repeat his victory of two years ago. Taquin Du Seuil was having his first start beyond 2m5f in the Charlie Hall and the Cheltenham Grade 1 winner stayed on well enough though this represents an even stiffer test. The remainder all need to improve but Snoopy Loopy showed in 2008 that shocks can occur in the race.
Cue Card 13-8fav (11-10) Tracked leader, challenged 5th, pushed along before 4 out, still every chance 2 out, 3rd and no extra last, dropped to 4th flat, 4th of 7, 16l behind God's Own (10-7) at Exeter 2m 1f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gs.
Double Ross (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, led 4 out, headed 2 out, no chance with winner, lost 2nd place close home, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Menorah (11-10) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs G2 (1) gd.
Dynaste (FR) 13-8fav (11-7) Held up, headway approaching 8th, closed 3 out, carried right before going into close 2nd last, held by winner flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Silviniaco Conti (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f chs G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Harry Topper 7-1 (11-12) Raced wide in touch, blundered 2nd, mistake and lost place 14th, behind from 18th, pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Goulanes (10-3) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gs in Mar, 16 ran.
Medermit (FR) 9-1 (11-0) Held up behind, kept on from last, went 4th place run-in, 4th of 7, 5l behind Menorah (11-10) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs G2 (1) gd.
Menorah (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, headway 12th, led 2 out, clear before last, won at Wetherby 3m 1f chs G2 (1) gd beating Taquin Du Seuil (11-5) by 4l, 7 ran.
Silviniaco Conti (FR) Evensfav (11-10) Led to 4 out, ridden before 2 out, no extra from last, 5th of 7, 8l behind Menorah (11-10) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs G2 (1) gd.
Taquin Du Seuil (FR) 10-3 (11-5) Chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, ridden before last, kept on to take 2nd place close, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Menorah (11-10) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs G2 (1) gd.
The Giant Bolster 20-1 (11-10) Chased leaders until lost place from 2nd in rear from 3rd, never on terms after, last of 7, 49l behind Menorah (11-10) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs G2 (1) gd.
