led, slow 3rd and 4th, headed before 2 out, led soon after 2 out, headed before not fluent last, rallied flat, stayed on well, led towards finish
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, slow 4th, lost place 3 out, well behind before 2 out
prominent, challenging when pecked 5th, led before 2 out, slow and headed 2 out, soon beaten, 4th and no extra last
chased leaders, not much room 3 out, led when mistake 2 out, soon headed, led again before last, headed towards finish
not fluent in rear, some headway before 2 out, soon weakened
took keen hold, prominent on inside, not fluent 2nd, soon lost a little bit of ground, ridden and close up before 2 out, 3rd and no extra when jumped left last
in rear, some headway 3 out, weakened before 2 out
Goblet Of Fire joins Nicky Henderson having won three of his last four on the Flat when trained by Nigel Tinkler but Galactic Jack would probably have been the best of these on the level, though nothing went right for him on hurdling debut at Cheltenham. Ithaca‘s Arrow has proved best on the all-weather so far but Royal Way won on very testing ground in France and his new yard has won this three times in the last 10 years. CASTELFORT found only a more-experienced rival too good at Chepstow and may go one better today with that run under his belt.
Castelfort (FR) 2-1 (11-0) Prominent when awkward 1st, chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on but no telling impression on winner, well clear of rest, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Balboa (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (4) hvy in Oct.
Galactic Jack (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Badly hampered 1st and pushed through rail, soon in rear, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up last, at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Nov.
Goblet Of Fire 4-1 (9-4) Mid-division, went 4th well over 2f out, ridden 2f out, kept on to lead over 1f out, stayed on gamely, won at Beverley 1m 2f hcp (6) sft in Aug beating Western Beat (10-2) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Ithaca's Arrow 6-1 (9-9) Prominent, led over 10f out, soon headed, stayed prominent, every chance inside final furlong, no impression on winner towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Bohemian Breeze (9-7) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Macari 16-1 (11-0) Chased leaders on outer, pushed along and weakened 2f out, 6th of 11, 16l behind Dirty Den (11-0) at Huntingdon 1m 6f mdn (5) gd in Nov.
Royal Way (FR) 28-1 (8-11) last of 12, 29 3/4l behind El Meastro (9-2) at Vichy 1m mdn stks sft in Jul.
Zooks (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Led, wandered into 1st and headed, soon led again, slow and headed 2nd, outpaced after 3 out, weakened after next, 3rd of 4, 22 3/4l behind Royal Athena (10-12) at Fakenham 2m fll (4) gs in Nov.
