held up tracking leaders in 5th on inside, headway turning in, soon pushed along and not quicken, ridden in well held 3rd between last two, weakened into 4th run-in
raced keenly tracking leaders on inside, went 2nd at 4th, angled out home turn, led on bit 2 out, soon clear, canter
raced wide, tracked leader until 4th, rallied out wide 4 out, readily left behind as pace lifted turning in, rallied and went 3rd run-in
led and set steady pace, pushed along and quickened turning in, headed 2 out, soon readily outpaced and no chance with winner
tracked leaders, went 2nd briefly 4th, pushed along and unable to quicken before 2 out, driven between last two, no impression and weakened
NonRunner
CONSTITUTION HILL won this last year with Sceau Royal tailed off. Nicky Henderson’s champion will be a short price to extend his unbeaten record over timber in this year’s renewal as he’s rated 26lb higher than the progressive Rubaud, who had First Street and Sceau Royal behind when winning a Listed race here in October. Black Poppy and Nemean Lion are decent handicappers but look out of their depth in this grade.
Black Poppy 11-2 (11-3) Midfield, in touch with leaders 3 out, travelling okay 2 out, soon ridden, disputed 2nd approaching last where mistake, stayed on run-in but no match for winner, 2nd of 18, 7 1/2l behind Our Champ (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Constitution Hill 2-15fav (11-10) Jumped well, made all, clear 6th until before 3 out, quickened clear after 2 out, nudged out final 100 yards, easily, won at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gs in Apr beating Sharjah (11-10) by 3l, 6 ran.
First Street 1-7fav (11-4) Chased sole rival, pushed along before 3 out, no impression after 2 out, well held when slipped on landing last, last of 2, 22l behind Bourbali (11-4) at Kempton 2m 2f (3) gs in Nov.
Rubaud (FR) 1-2fav (11-8) Hurdled slickly, made all, given easy lead start and soon clear, steadied pace after 2nd, pushed along and quickened before 2 out, in command between last two, stayed on strongly, eased towards finish, won at Wincanton 1m 7f (1) gs in Nov beating Hansard (11-2) by 4 1/4l, 4 ran.
Sceau Royal (FR) 9-1 (11-4) Close up in rear, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, weakened flat, last of 5, 19l behind Blueking D'oroux (10-13) at Ascot 2m 3f (1) gd in Nov.
Nemean Lion (GER) 6-1 (12-0) Held up towards rear, smooth headway tracking leaders when blundered 2 out, mistake last, kept on after but not recover, 5th of 15, 9 1/2l behind Iberico Lord (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
