raced freely, led, clear from 3rd, reached for 6th, stumbled on landing 8th and headed, lost 2nd 4 out, chased leading pair until 3 out, kept on trying and same pace in 4th
tracking leaders when blundered lost place and dropped to last pair 2nd, not fluent next, rallied into 3rd 3 out, driven and one pace between last 2, kept on well run-in, almost snatched 2nd
tracked leading pair, 2nd 4 out, pushed along approaching next, challenged and hit 2 out, ridden and took slight lead briefly run-in, no extra final 100 yards, kept on to hold 2nd
held up last, mistake 5th, modest 5th before 2 out, plugged on from last, never involved
tracked clear leader, led 8th, mistake and joined 2 out, slight lead when bad mistake last, ridden and headed briefly run-in, in front again and found extra to assert final 100 yards
mistake 1st, raced wide, off the pace in 4th, pushed along after 4 out, weakened next
Connections have expressed concerns regarding the ground for ante-post favourite Un De Sceaux. He was second to Sprinter Sacre in the Celebration Chase on good ground here back in April, though he still beat Sire De Grugy. The latter won this in 2013 and again last year when Vibrato Valtat was back in third and returned to winning ways in a valuable handicap at Ascot last month. Stablemate Ar Mad won the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase on last year’s card and has reportedly made a full recovery from injury and worked well leading up to this. Today’s ground will suit the committed front-runner along with the Tom George duo of Sir Valentino and GOD’S OWN (NAP). The former may find the competition too hot in this but the latter has every chance. He has a couple of recent runs under his belt and should go very close if running up to the same level as when beating Vautour a couple of lengths in Punchestown’s Champion Chase back in April.
Ar Mad (FR) 2-7fav (11-8) Made all, jumped right throughout 1st circuit, jumped well after, 10 lengths clear afrom 3rd, 25 lengths clear approaching 2 out, unchallenged, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb beating Alder Mairi (10-3) by 25l, 3 ran.
God's Own (IRE) 7-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, 3rd at 13th, pushed along into 2nd before 2 out, ridden and held last, lost 2nd run-in, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Royal Regatta (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gs in Nov.
Sire De Grugy (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, went left next, pushed clear before 2 out, went left 2 out and last, stayed on strongly, driven out, won at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Nov beating Quite By Chance (10-9) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Sir Valentino (FR) 10-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway 4th, challenged 4 out, not fluent and led 2 out, headed last, stayed on well, led again close home, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Nov beating Garde La Victoire (10-12) by shd, 8 ran.
Un De Sceaux (FR) (10-10) 6th of 12, 14 3/4l behind Ptit Zig (10-10) at Auteuil 3m 1f sft in Jun.
Vibrato Valtat (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Took keen hold, held up in last pair, ridden before 2 out, plugged on but no impression from last, 5th of 7, 5 1/2l behind Royal Regatta (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gs in Nov.
