tracked leading pair, went 2nd after 2nd, blundered badly and fell 3rd
held up in rear, hampered 3rd, never on terms after
tracked leader until after 2nd tracked leading pair, left 2nd 3rd, led 9th, clear before 2 out where not fluent, narrow lead when went badly left last, driven run-in, all out
tracked leaders, stumbled 1st, left in 4th place at 3rd, hit 4 out, ridden and no extra next
led until 9th, chased winner, challenging when badly hampered last, kept on run-in, not quite able to challenge
last pair, never on terms
held up tracking leaders, left in 3rd place 3rd, ridden approaching 2 out, driven and one pace approaching last
Nonrunner
VIBRATO VALTAT (NAP) looks a worthy favourite for the latest renewal of this Grade 1 chase given trainer Paul Nicholls has won this a record nine times in the last 15 years. His grey won the Henry VIII Novices' Chase on this card 12 months ago and was also successful at Kempton and Warwick last season when the ground was soft. Quicker going later impeded his progress and he was behind Special Tiara and Mr Mole in the Celebration Chase over course and distance in April but comfortably beat Third Intention in the Haldon Gold Cup on his reappearance and that should have put him spot-on for this stiffer test. Sire De Grugy beat old stager Somersby here in 2013 but doesn't look the force of old and was well behind the selection at Exeter. Simonsig also has much to prove nowadays and his Aintree conqueror Bobs Worth did little for the form at Newbury last week. Josses Hill seems better over 2m4f but would have place claims on his third in the Arkle in March when the fast pace suited.
Josses Hill (IRE) 13-8fav (11-4) Jumped right, led until 1st, led again before next, headed after 4th, chased winner until ridden and veered right after 2 out, soon beaten, stayed on again flat, no impression, 4th of 6, 11 3/4l behind Clarcam (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gs in Apr.
Mr Mole (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Led, driven and headed after 4 out, outpaced next, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 6, 25 3/4l behind Sprinter Sacre (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Nov.
Sire De Grugy (FR) 11-4fav (11-10) Held up in touch in 4th, blundered 4th, pushed along and effort to press leaders 4 out, every chance before 2 out, weakened last, eased, last of 5, dist behind Vibrato Valtat (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Somersby (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, joined leader on outside 8th, outpaced in 3rd before 3 out, went 2nd again approaching 2 out, kept on, no chance with impressive winner, 2nd of 6, 14l behind Sprinter Sacre (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Nov.
Special Tiara 11-4fav (11-12) Led, jumped slightly left 3rd, soon joined, mistake and bumped 5 out and headed, soon pushed along in 3rd, dropped to moderate 4th approaching 4 out where not fluent, no extra and eased, 4th of 6, dist behind Hidden Cyclone (11-10) at Navan 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Third Intention (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Tracked winner 2nd until 4 out, chased leading pair, mistake 3 out, soon no impression, well outpaced and no chance before 2 out, went left final two, 3rd of 5, 33 3/4l behind Vautour (11-6) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gs in Nov.
Vibrato Valtat (FR) 5-2fav (11-0) Tracked leader until 1st, close up after, challenged 4 out, led after 3 out, clear when hit last and pecked, ridden out, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (1) sft in Nov beating Third Intention (11-3) by 4l, 5 ran.
Simonsig 5-2fav (10-12) Took keen hold, tracked leading pair before 2nd, left 2nd 4th, loomed up to challenge flat, ridden final 125 yards, no impression, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Bobs Worth (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f (2) sft in Nov.
