close up, not fluent 4th, driven after 5 out, left behind from next, tailed off
led, mistake 12th, hard pressed 3 out, driven and headed last, soon ridden, kept on but always held flat
close up, pushed along before 4 out, kept on same pace, no chance with clear pair before 2 out
jumped well, patiently ridden, held up off the pace in rear, smooth headway and jumped into 2nd 4 out, poised to challenge next, hit and shaken up after 2 out, led last, ridden out, stayed on well
Just four runners but what a race in prospect. BRISTOL DE MAI is unbeaten in four starts on the track including this for the past two seasons, making most to see off Native River a year ago having easily beaten Cue Card in 2017. His third place in the Gold Cup was another brilliant effort and there wasn't much wrong with his fourth in the Betway Bowl at Aintree in April. Cue Card had won this three times earlier and Colin Tizzard looks to have a ready-made replacement in Lostintranslation. Still only seven, he showed himself top-class when runner-up to Defi Du Seuil in the JLT at Cheltenham before a very impressive victory over Topofthegame in the Mildmay. Frodon is also unbeaten here though that success came over hurdles in 2016. He opened his last campaign with a Grade 2 victory at Aintree before just failing to concede Baron Alco 15lb in a Grade 2 handicap at Cheltenham where he was to prove unbeatable in his next three starts culminating in that superb victory in the Ryanair. The selection's stable companion Ballyoptic fell in the Grand National but it hasn't done him any harm as he's looked even better this season, landing a Chepstow handicap then the Charlie Hall in Great style at Wetherby. A strict line through third-placed Aso, runner-up in the Ryanair, just gives him the edge over Frodon so he's no forlorn hope.
Ballyoptic (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) With leaders, challenged 3 out, led next, edged right from last, kept on well, driven out, won at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Nov beating Elegant Escape (11-4) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.
Bristol De Mai (FR) 7-2 (11-7) Disputed lead to 4th, remained close up, driven after 3 out, ridden and one pace after next, stayed on to dispute 3rd flat, no impression, 4th of 6, 10 1/4l behind Kemboy (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Frodon (FR) 11-4 (11-10) Led, clever at 5th hit next, pushed along after last (normal 4 out), headed bypassing omitted 2 out, readily outpaced into 3rd bypassing omitted last, just held on for remote 3rd, 3rd of 5, 14 3/4l behind Forest Bihan (10-4) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Oct.
Lostintranslation (IRE) 1-2fav (11-8) Made all, kept on strongly from 2 out, won at Carlisle 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Nov beating Count Meribel (11-2) by 2 1/4l, 4 ran.
