raced keenly, tracked leader, led 4th, made rest, hit 8th, pushed clear before 2 out, stayed on strongly
tracked leading pair, went 2nd at 6th, pushed along and held when not fluent 2 out, bad mistake last, not recover and weakened into 3rd run-in
led until mistake and headed 4th, lost 2nd 6th, chased leading pair, pushed along after 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off
held up tracking leaders, jumped slowly and lost place 5th, left in 4th next, rallied in 3rd before 3 out, went 2nd run-in, no chance with winner
held up tracking leaders, blundered badly 6th, behind and pulled up before 8th
Sceau Royal finished second in this in 2019 and was third last year but has 12 lengths to find with winner GREANETEEN, who beat Nube Negra in the Tingle Creek here in December and has been rested since running well below par in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown in February. Rouge Vif and Sky Pirate have a lot to find with the others at the weights.
Greaneteen (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Raced alone in 3rd on inner, closed at 7th, not fluent 4 out, lost place and weakened before 2 out, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Chacun Pour Soi (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) Yielding in Feb.
Nube Negra (SPA) 4-1 (11-7) Bit keen, chased leaders on inside, not fluent 5th, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous after, 4th of 5, 12 1/4l behind Greaneteen (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) gs in Dec.
Rouge Vif (FR) 3-1 (11-0) Led, raced keenly, headed and raced in 2nd after 5th, disputed lead before 8th, headed 3 out, soon beaten and weakened quickly, tailed off, 3rd of 4, dist behind Mister Fisher (11-6) at Kempton 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan.
Sceau Royal (FR) 18-1 (11-7) Held up in mid-division on inside, raced keenly, headway 12th, went 3rd after 2 out, no impression before last, kept on, 3rd of 10, 8 1/2l behind Fakir D'Oudairies (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gs in Apr.
Sky Pirate 18-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway from 4 out, went 3rd after 2 out, no impression on front pair, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 16, 17 3/4l behind The Last Day (10-6) at Aintree 2m hcp (1) gs in Apr.