tracked leader, pushed along before 5 out, soon weakened and in rear
led, headed 12th, blundered 4 out, weakened from 2 out
in rear and in touch, went 3rd before 5 out, chased winner from 2 out, always well held
tracked leaders, led 12th, clear from 2 out, readliy
SAPHIR DU RHEU (NAP) has to be winning this if he is to justify entries in the Ryanair and Gold Cup. The grey ran a cracker behind Foxtail Hill under a big weight at Cheltenham last time and is favoured by race conditions here, though he has disappointed a few times over the larger obstacles. Bernardelli beat Spanish Fleet, who runs earlier on the card, over a shorter trip here last time but has to concede the selection 4lb. So does the returning Firth Of The Clyde and Irish raider Maggio has to give 6lb and four years to Paul Nicholls’ charge, though is a past course and distance winner.
Maggio (FR) 25-1 (10-6) Prominent and disputed early, chased leaders from 5th, ridden 2 out, no extra entering straight, kept on one pace, 11th of 25, 15 1/4l behind Electric Concorde (10-11) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Dec.
Bernardelli (IRE) 11-1 (10-9) Tracked leader, led before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on well, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (2) hvy in Jan beating Spanish Fleet (10-0) by 9l, 6 ran.
Firth Of The Clyde 14-1 (11-12) In rear, pushed along 10th, soon lost place, tailed off, 6th of 7, 27l behind Definitly Red (11-1) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp lst (1) sft in Apr.
Saphir Du Rheu (FR) 6-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 2 out, stayed on flat, closed on winner but unable to challenge, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Foxtail Hill (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
