towards rear, headway 4 out, soon ridden, left 3rd 2 out, not trouble leading pair
always in rear, not fluent 2nd and 8th, tailed off from 11th, pulled up before next
close up, headway 11th, went 2nd next, switched left 14th, ridden 2 out, challenged last, driven and stayed on to lead final strides
tracked leaders, lost place 11th, headway to chase leading pair 3 out, ridden and challenging for 2nd when fell 2 out
in touch, ridden and weakened 4 out
led, headed 11th, lost place 4 out, pulled up before next
raced wide, tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, kept on same pace
close up, lost place 11th, weakened 4 out, fell last
keen, tracked leader, led 11th, ridden 2 out, headed final strides
Silviniaco Conti bids to win this for a third year running and join a select list. He should be cherry-ripe now and could be allowed to start at generous odds but he needs to reverse Betfair Chase running with the much-improved Cue Card and a few of the others also appear in peak form. Al Ferof won the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon and has finished third in this in the last two seasons. Smad Place made all in the Hennessy but has yet to win a Grade 1 over fences and could face a battle for the lead. There are slight stamina doubts surrounding Vautour but he's a high-class chaser who should be thereabouts if lasting home off a likely strong gallop. DON COSSACK appears to tick all the boxes and it's significant that he's been sent over for this when he could have stayed at home and run in the Lexus. Gordon Elliott's eight-year-old routed Cue Card and Al Ferof in the Melling Chase in April and can land the spoils, confirming himself a genuine Gold Cup prospect in the process.
Al Ferof (FR) 9-4 (11-10) Chased clear leader from 2nd, closed 11th, led before 2 out, shaken up and 2 1/2 lengths ahead when left well clear last, ridden out, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f (1) gs in Dec beating Pepite Rose (10-11) by dist, 5 ran.
Ballynagour (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) In rear, mistake 11th and 12th, weakened from 5 out, last of 5, dist behind Cue Card (11-7) at Haydock 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Cue Card 7-4 (11-7) Tracked leader, challenged 4 out, led before 3 out, clear before last, easily, won at Haydock 3m (1) sft in Nov beating Silviniaco Conti (11-7) by 7l, 5 ran.
Don Cossack (GER) 2-11fav (11-10) Raced in 3rd, 2nd after 14th travelling smoothly, on terms before 4 out, soon led, asserted from after 3 out, slight mistake 2 out, stayed on well run-in, very easily, won at Down Royal 3m Yielding in Oct beating Rocky Creek (11-10) by 8l, 4 ran.
Irish Cavalier (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 10th, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, headed flat, no extra final 100 yards, 5th of 20, 6 1/2l behind Annacotty (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Silviniaco Conti (FR) 5-4fav (11-7) Led, headed before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on and no impression on winner, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Cue Card (11-7) at Haydock 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Smad Place (FR) 7-1 (11-4) Chased leader, went right 7th, led 9th, made rest, went right again 3 out, forged clear before next, went right again last, won at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Nov beating Theatre Guide (10-2) by 12l, 15 ran.
Valseur Lido (FR) 7-2 (11-10) Settled behind leaders, 3rd halfway, 5th before 4 out, switched out and took closer order before 3 out, ridden in 3rd after 3 out, stayed on into 2nd entering straight, no impression on winner before last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 12l behind Djakadam (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec.
Vautour (FR) 2-5fav (11-6) Raced keenly, tended to jump left, made all, mistake 11th, travelling well before 2 out, looked pressed when good jump last, ridden out to assert run-in, won at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gs in Nov beating Ptit Zig (11-11) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
