with leader, bumped 1st, led after next until 9th, chased leader until 13th, chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, left poor 3rd and badly hampered on landing after the last
never fluent, towards rear, mistake 8th, behind and struggling next, tailed off and pulled up before 13th
took keen hold, held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, steady headway on outside tracking leaders approaching 5th, pulled up quickly and dismounted before 7th
always in rear, blundered 4th, tailed off when fell 3 out
went left 1st, led briefly approaching 2nd, chased leader, led again 9th, clear 14th, went left 2 out, 10 lengths ahead and going strongly when fell last
led until approaching 2nd chased leading pair until 7th, chased leaders, lost place after 9th, behind and struggling after 11th, soon lost touch, tailed off when mistake 3 out and pulled up
mistakes, chased leaders, blundered badly 5th, not fluent next, hit 11th and ridden, driven and weakened after 4 out, left poor 4th last
raced wide, tracked leaders, went 2nd 13th, not fluent next, hit 2 out, 10 lengths down and no impression when left clear last
last trio, reminders and struggling in 6th before 12th, left poor 2nd and slightly hampered on landing last
held up in last pair, steady headway 12th, went 3rd 14th, driven and no impression when left poor 2nd at the last, slithered badly on landing and fell soon after
Only one four-year-old has won this in 40 years and that was subsequent King George and Gold Cup hero Long Run so the stats are weighted against recent Cheltenham winner Frodon, who is only getting 7lb from his elders and tries 3m for the first time. Stablemate Present Man won a Grade 2 at Doncaster earlier in the month but is basically a handicapper, as are Churchtown Champ and Minella Daddy. Might Bite’s jumping at Doncaster left much to be desired and his stable companion Caracci Apache fell at Newbury. Virgilio appears to have had his limitations exposed but Anibale Fly only found one too good in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse and a similar effort will see him go close. We’ll take a chance on AMORE ALATO as he looked to have improved a bundle when making all at Sandown and could get most of these in trouble if allowed to dominate again.
Amore Alato 10-3 (10-9) Jumped well, pressed leader, led 3rd, made rest, pushed along before 3 out, clear from 2 out, driven before last, stayed on strongly, won at Sandown 3m lst (1) gd in Nov beating Ballybolley (11-5) by 7l, 4 ran.
Anibale Fly (FR) 7-2 (11-10) Ran 6th, went 4th before 4 out, pushed along after 2 out, kept on one pace into 2nd run-in, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Coney Island (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Good - Yielding in Dec.
Caracci Apache (IRE) 25-1 (11-8) Mid-division, hit 2nd, headway tracking leaders 5th, fell 11th, at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Churchtown Champ (IRE) 5-4fav (11-8) Held up in rear, mistake 3rd, blundered 12th, good headway to go 3rd before 7 out, led 3 out, soon clear, eased heavily run-in, won at Southwell 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Pearl Swan (11-6) by 10l, 5 ran.
Might Bite (IRE) 1-2fav (11-0) Made all, travelling well when left clear 10th, hit 2 out, kept on strongly, unchallenged, won at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gd in Dec beating Premier Bond (11-0) by 14l, 5 ran.
Minella Daddy (IRE) 9-2fav (10-13) Led until 4th, chased leader, led approaching 2 out, clear when slightly hampered approaching the last and lost momentum, headed and outpaced final 100 yards, 2nd of 14, 1 3/4l behind Regal Encore (11-1) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Present Man (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Made all, jumped badly right from 8th, kept on, driven out, won at Doncaster 3m (1) gd in Dec beating Potters Legend (11-8) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
Royal Vacation (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked (clear) winner until 8th, chased leading pair, not on terms when jumped slowly 10th, lost 3rd next, ridden and plugged on into modest 3rd again 2 out, kept on under pressure run-in, 3rd of 4, 6 3/4l behind Politologue (11-6) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gs in Dec.
Virgilio (FR) 7-1 (11-8) Tracked leader to 5 out, kept on to regain 2nd after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Clan Des Obeaux (10-7) at Newbury 2m 4f (1) gs in Nov.
Frodon (FR) 14-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, closed 4 out, 2nd last, soon led, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec beating Aso (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
