pressed leader from 3rd, ridden and lost place before 4 out, no chance after
tracked leaders, led 3 out, narrowly headed last, chased leading pair after, kept on to take 2nd near finish
raced in close 4th, ridden after 4 out, weakened next
held up last, not fluent 4th, headway to track leading pair after 3 out, effort and upsides last, driven ahead run-in, stayed on well
held up in 6th, smooth headway from 4 out, tracked leading pair on bit after 3 out, led last, ridden and headed run-in, one pace
led and clear until blundered 3rd, headed 3 out, soon weakened
Great Travel had been favourite for the Victor Chandler before being taken out as he was so far out of the weights and is fancied to maintain his unbeaten record this term here at the main expense of another progressive performer Oneway and Impek. The last mentioned represents the Best Mate connections of Jim Lewis, Henrietta Knight and Jim Culloty and, while not in great form at present, has slipped to an attractive mark so is hard to ignore. Similar comments apply to the top weight Cenkos, who has not been at his best this term but it may be too soon to write off the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding. Stablemate Great Travel by comparison is improving rapidly this season, following up an eight-length reappearance success over Tysou over course and distance with a similar margin of victory over Duchamp at Newbury. A 13lb rise since then leaves the six-year-old with more to do but with further improvement anticipated he is expected to complete a hat trick. Mark Rimell's Oneway has been a revelation this term winning all four of his starts but is now 36lbs higher than at the start of the campaign and the handicapper may now have his measure. Bleu Superbe fell early on at Doncaster last week and has to be respected in receipt of weight, while Upgrade cannot be entirely dismissed representing, as he does, the stable of Martin Pipe. Great Travel looks a horse to keep on the right side of though and is hard to oppose.
Cenkos (FR) 25-1 Held up in rear, mistake and lost touch 8th, 9th of 10, 44l behind Well Chief at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Jan.
Impek (FR) 33-1 Chased clear leader and clear of rest, weakened approaching 2 out, beaten when mistake last, 4th of 7, 22l behind Harchibald at Kempton 2m hdl Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec.
Upgrade 12-1 With leader, led 4th, headed and reluctant to race bend after 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, last of 5, 40l behind Le Passing at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs (B) hvy in Jan.
Oneway (IRE) 9-4fav Held up in rear, steady headway approaching 3 out, ridden 2 out, challenged leader last, led soon after, ran on well, won at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gs in Jan beating Bleu Superbe by 2l, 9 ran.
Great Travel (FR) 7-4fav Held up in mid-division, steady headway from 9th, joined leaders when pecked 4 out, led on bit 2 out, ridden clear flat, won at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gd in Nov beating Duchamp by 8l, 12 ran.
Bleu Superbe (FR) 15-8fav Led until fell at the 5th in race won by Palua at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-140 (B) gd in Jan, 7 ran.
