tracked leader, disputed 9th, soon led, joined again 5 out, better jump to lead 3 out, pushed out to assert before last, kept on strongly run-in, comfortably
held up, keen hold and closer briefly 8th, towards rear and slight mistake 7 out, ridden in 6th 2 out, no impression in 5th before last, kept on same pace run-in
soon tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, close up briefly 5 out, ridden after 2 out, no impression entering straight, no extra from last
settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, slight mistake 10th, ridden in 5th 2 out, no impression in 4th before last, kept on same pace run-in
tracked leaders early, held up behind leaders from 4th, slight mistakes 7th and 5 out, ridden in 4th before 2 out, no extra in 6th before last, weakened run-in
led, jumped slightly right, slightly slow 3rd, joined 9th, soon headed, disputed from 5 out, headed 3 out, ridden in 2nd after 2 out, no impression on winner before last, kept on same pace run-in
always rear, slight mistake 7 out, ridden and no extra after 3 out, weakened
NonRunner
A PLUS TARD won this in 2020 and was beaten a short-head by Galvin last year before his famous victory in the Gold Cup. Obviously not right in the Betfair at Haydock, he should bounce back here. Galvin, well beaten in the big one at Cheltenham, also disappointed in the Champion Chase at Down Royal in November when Conflated finished runner-up. The latter announced his presence on the big stage with a victory in the Irish Gold Cup here in February while Paul Townend sticks with the ultra-consistent Kemboy, who won this back in 2018.
Conflated (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Pressed leader, close up at times, mistake 5th, improved to dispute after 4 out, ridden before 2 out, slight mistake 2 out and headed, no extra in 3rd before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Envoi Allen (11-10) at Down Royal 3m (1) Yielding in Nov.
Franco De Port (FR) (10-5) 5th of 11, 30 1/2l behind Gran Diose (11-0) at Auteuil 2m 6f Grp 2 (1) hvy in Dec.
French Dynamite (FR) 5-1 (11-6) Chased leader until 7th, handy 3rd, went 2nd again 4 out, led 2 out, ridden and stayed on run-in, headed towards finish, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Ga Law (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Fury Road (IRE) 7-2 (12-0) Held up, ridden to close before 2 out, disputed 2 out, slightly slow last, kept on well run-in, just prevailed last strides, won at Down Royal 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Nov beating Delvino (10-10) by shd, 4 ran.
Galvin (IRE) 5-6fav (11-10) Settled behind leaders, 4th and mistake 1th, ridden before 3 out, no impression before 2 out where slight mistake, kept on one pace, 4th of 5, 15 1/2l behind Envoi Allen (11-10) at Down Royal 3m (1) Yielding in Nov.
Kemboy (FR) 17-2 (11-10) Led and pressed, slight mistakes 3rd, 6th and 7th, joined after 4 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on, headed run-in, no extra in 2nd close home, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Envoi Allen (11-10) at Down Royal 3m (1) Yielding in Nov.
Royal Rendezvous (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Prominent, dropped to 7th on inner 3 out, headway into close 4th 2 out, soon ridden, disputed lead at last, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr beating Discordantly (10-8) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
A Plus Tard (FR) 1-2fav (11-10) Jumped right on occasion, held up in rear, pecked 14th, soon nudged along, in touch approaching 4 out when jumped right and slow, weakened quickly and pulled up before next, at Haydock 3m 2f (1) sft in Nov.
