tracked leading trio, 3rd at 3rd (water), travelling well when blundered 4 out, 2nd before next, 2 lengths down when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
tended to jump left, tracked leader, led 2nd, went left and headed 4 out, dropped to 3rd before left modest 2nd and went left 3 out and next, hanging left and no chance when went badly left again blundered and unseated rider last
whipped round left as tapes rose, took keen hold and soon recovered tracking leaders 3rd (water), hit next, went 2nd 6th, led 4 out, left well clear next, eased run-in
led until 2nd, chased leader until 6th, chased leaders in 4th, well outpaced when not fluent 9th, left modest 3rd 3 out and 2nd at the last
tracked leaders until mistake and dropped to rear 3rd (water), no chance after, left poor 3rd at the last
Paul Nicholls has won this six times in the last 20 years so should know what's required. His MR MOLE has plenty to find on official ratings with Sire De Grugy but A P McCoy appears to have worked out how to get the best out of the seven-year-old this season and he might be capable of upsetting the champion two-miler, who makes his seasonal reappearance having had his problems since completing a five-timer at Sandown in April last year. Uxizandre hasn't quite hit the heights expected this season and McCoy deserts him in favour of the selection after a poor run in the Dial-A-Bet at Leopardstown over Christmas. Upsilon Bleu and Karinga Dancer will do well to figure on these terms.
Sire De Grugy (FR) 2-7fav (11-7) Held up in touch in last trio, headway from 7th, challenged 3 out, not fluent next, led before last, ridden clear flat, stayed on well, won at Sandown 2m chs G1 (1) gs in Apr beating Pepite Rose (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Uxizandre (FR) 2-1fav (11-12) Led, jumped left and brushed wing 3rd, headed 5th where mistake, dropped to 4th and pushed along 3 out, lost place approaching 2 out where jumped left and brushed wing, soon no extra, 8th of 9, 31l behind Twinlight (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f chs G1 (1) hvy in Dec.
Mr Mole (IRE) 5-2fav (11-4) Pressed leader, led 5th, mistake and narrowly headed 4 out, pressed leader, led again 2 out, went right last, edged right run-in, driven out, won at Sandown 2m hcp chs (2) sft in Jan beating Brick Red (11-1) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Upsilon Bleu (FR) 7-4fav (11-6) Led narrowly to 6th, remained prominent, led again before 3 out, 4 lengths clear last, idled flat, ridden out when pressed towards finish, held on, won at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Dec beating French Opera (11-9) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Karinga Dancer 6-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, went 3rd 2 out, no impression last, one pace, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Sew On Target (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Dec.
