chased winner, jumped right 7th, lost 2nd 11th, driven after next, 4th and beaten when mistake 2 out
held up, not much room 7th, went definite 3rd after next, chased winner after 11th, ridden after 3 out, tried to challenge when faltered briefly between last 2, one pace flat
held up and behind, not fluent 12th, progress soon after, weakened quickly after 3 out, pulled up after 2 out
pulled up after 1st, lame
chased leaders, not fluent 8th, soon lost place and driven along, behind from next
held up, headway to go 3rd after 11th, ridden from 3 out, stayed on flat
made all, driven after 12th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on gamely
Nonrunner
In the big race of the day, State Of Play is selected ahead of Monkerhostin and, possibly, Madison du Berlais. Last year's impressive Hennessy Gold Cup winner, State Of Play, failed to build on that afterwards, although he ran well for a long way in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. With good reports, though, coming out of his stable, it could be that he holds the key to this Grade 2 Chase as he can go well fresh. Second in the 2005 King George, and fourth in last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup, Monkerhostin has bags of ability and is entitled to plenty of respect, as are the Aintree Grade 2 novice winner Aces Four, and Kingscliff, the 2005 Lancashire Chase winner who returned to form at the end of last season with a second in the Grade One Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup. Finally, with his stable in such good form, a good run cannot be ruled out for Ollie Magern, while David Pipe's Newbury Grade Three winner, Madison du Berlais, can improve again this season and, just for good measure, Paul Nicholls runs the useful second-season novice, Turko. The selection, though, once again, in a very good race, is State Of Play.
Madison Du Berlais (FR) 11-4fav (11-10) Chased leaders, driven along 12th, lost place 4 out, rallied under strong pressure approaching last, went 3rd early run-in, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Nycteos (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr.
State of Play 3-1 (11-8) Chased leader, led 10th, headed after 14th, weakened and blundered 4 out, 4th of 5, 31l behind Exotic Dancer (11-12) at Aintree 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr.
Aces Four (IRE) 6-4fav (11-10) Close 2nd, led after 5 out, strongly pressed from before 2 out, one length advantage when fell in race won by Offshore Account (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f nov chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr, 7 ran.
Turko (FR) 4-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, mistake 10th, weakened 4 out, beaten when pulled up 2 out in race won by Aces Four (11-5) at Aintree 3m 1f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
Kingscliff (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Led, mistake 3rd, headed before 4 out, ridden and outpaced next, kept on from before last, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Neptune Collonges (11-12) at Punchestown 3m 1f chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Monkerhostin (FR) 15-2 (11-12) Held up, 7th 6 out, progress into moderate 4th 4 out, no extra after 3 out, 5th of 10, 19l behind Neptune Collonges (11-12) at Punchestown 3m 1f chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Ollie Magern 25-1 (11-10) Led to 5th, tracked leader until 12th, weakened quickly before next, 7th of 9, well behind Kauto Star (11-10) at Kempton 3m chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec.
Bewleys Berry (IRE) 22-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, led 18th, fell 22nd (Becher's) fell at the 23th in race won by Silver Birch (10-6) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr, 40 ran.
