held up in rear, outpaced before 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, mistake 11th, outpaced when not fluent 4 out, mistake and weakened 3 out, jumped left 2 out
tracked leaders, challenged 4 out, soon led, not fluent and headed 2 out, stayed on, just held
held up, jumped slowly 1st, blundered next, not fluent 9th, headway on outside 11th, challenged 4 out, led 2 out, driven flat, held on
tracked leader until before 2nd, in touch, niggled along before 5 out, challenged 4 out, mistake 3 out, every chance when not fluent last, no extra flat
led until 13th, beaten when left 4th 3 out, weakened next
prominent, went 2nd before 2nd, led 13th, headed after 4 out, still close 4th when fell next
Long Run, a former Gold Cup winner and successful in last year's King George, is undoubtedly the class act here but usually needs his first run of the season and will be plenty short enough against rivals who could exploit any lack of fitness. Unioniste is only a five-year-old but had some decent form last season, though disappointed in the RSA Chase on his final start. Harry Topper is another with plenty of scope and beat Benefficient over this trip at Newbury a year ago while Wayward Prince was second in this last year when Master Of The Hall finished last. CAPE TRIBULATION was behind Long Run when only fifth in the Gold Cup but an earlier defeat of Imperial Commander at Cheltenham was smart form and he won the Rowland Meyrick here last season under a big weight. At the likely odds, Malcom Jefferson's charge may be the value in this Grade 2.
Cape Tribulation 11-1 (11-7) Held up behind, pushed along 12th, headway 5 out, went 4th before 3 out, weakened before last, 5th of 8, 13l behind First Lieutenant (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f chs G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Long Run (FR) 11-4 (11-10) Led, disputed from 7 out, headed 3 out, soon ridden in 2nd, kept on, strongly pressed winner run-in, held close home, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Sir Des Champs (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f chs G1 (1) sft in Apr.
Wayward Prince 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leader to 6th, lost place before 2 out, 5th of 6, 43l behind Kangaroo Court (11-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Harry Topper 9-2 (11-10) Held up in rear, badly hampered and unseated rider 5th, in a race won by Mount Benbulben (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f nov chs G1 (1) sft in Apr, 8 ran.
Unioniste (FR) 5-2fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, mistake 12th, reminder after 14th, outpaced before 3 out, ridden 2 out, left 4th last, kept on flat, no impression, 4th of 11, 9l behind Lord Windermere (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Benefficient (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) In rear, 8th 4 out, effort from next, no impression entering straight, pulled up before last, in a race won by Arvika Ligeonniere (11-10) at Punchestown 2m nov chs G1 (1) hvy in Apr, 9 ran.
Master Of The Hall (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, last and struggling 8th, never involved, tailed off, 6th of 8, 31l behind Silviniaco Conti (11-10) at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
