held up, went 3rd after 3rd, led 8th, headed approaching last, no extra under pressure, not pace of winner run-in
prominent, tracked winner 8th, under pressure 3 out, outpaced before 2 out, plugged on
in rear, headway 8th, chased leader 3 out, led approaching last, driven clear run-in
held up and behind, dropped rear after 7th (water), never going well after
with leader to 2nd, ridden and lost place after 7th, well behind 10th, never dangerous after
towards rear, jumped slowly 10th, beaten before next
held up towards rear, ridden before 10th, no impression 3 out, one pace
prominent, effort under pressure 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out
led, jumped slow 3rd, headed 8th, weakened and behind after 10th
Azertyuiop is out to make amends for his Cheltenham defeat and is taken to come out on top over Well Chief, with that one's stablemate Locksmith expected to run well without being good enough. With no Moscow Flyer to worry about, Paul Nicholls should feel quietly confident that Azertyuiop can come out on top. He was never really travelling well at Cheltenham and was beaten a long way out. There is no way that he is 13 lengths inferior to Well Chief as that result would have us believe, and he is better judged on his defeat of that rival in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury in which he was conceding four-pound to Pipe's charge. Azertyuiop remains a class act and can end his season on a high. Nicholls and Pipe will take the rest of the prize money between them as they supply all of the runners, and the other placing could well go to Locksmith who has really come of age this season. His latest all-the-way win over My Will at Ayr has been franked by the latter this week, although he is up against it here. Azertyuiop is the one to beat.
Azertyuiop (FR) 2-1 Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, mistake 6th (water), never travelling with any fluency after, no impression on leaders from 3 out, 3rd of 8, 15l behind Moscow Flyer at Cheltenham 2m chs Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
Contraband 4-1 Held up, jumped left and rider lost iron briefly 3rd, continued to jump left, behind from 7th, 7th of 10, well behind Ashley Brook at Aintree 2m nov chs Grd 1 (A) gs.
Well Chief (GER) 7-2 Held up, headway into mid-division after 4th, chased winner after 3 out, ridden and edged left approaching last, stayed on flat, no impression when rider dropped whip near finish, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Moscow Flyer at Cheltenham 2m.
Armaturk (FR) 5-2fav Towards rear, hit 4th, headway to chase leader after 8th, soon ridden and one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 12l behind Full Irish at Ayr 2m hcp chs (B) gd.
Golden Alpha (IRE) 16-1 Led, headed approaching 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 9th of 15, 36l behind Fota Island at Aintree 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs.
Le Duc (FR) 4-1fav Mid-division, mistake and lost place 10th, behind when blundered 13th, kept on from 4 out, never troubled leaders, 3rd of 9, 28l behind Kock De La Vesvre at Perth 3m hcp chs (B).
Le Roi Miguel (FR) 2-1jt-fav Soon 15 lengths clear, gradually came back to field from 12th, pressed between last 2, pecked last and soon headed, no extra, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Quazar at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 2 (A) gd.
Seebald (GER) 25-1 Led to 2nd, lost place and reminders 5th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Thisthatandtother at Cheltenham 2m 5f chs Grd 2 (A) gd in Mar, 12 ran.
Locksmith 5-1 Made all, keen and soon clear, ridden and under pressure 3 out, ran on gamely flat, all out, won at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (A) gd beating My Will by 1/2l, 6 ran.
