in rear, headway before 4 out to chase leaders, ridden to lead before last, headed run-in, kept on and no extra towards finish
tracked leaders, lost place before 6 out, tailed off
tracked leader, led 5 out, ridden and headed before last, rallied to regain lead run-in, kept on gamely
led, headed 5 out, ridden and weakened before 3 out
towards rear, headway before 5 out, went 2nd before 4 out, ridden and no extra before last
in touch in 4th, headway before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace
Brian Hughes gave Cloudy Dream an excellent ride in the Arkle at Cheltenham but he couldn’t match the speed of Altior in the closing stages. Malcolm Jefferson’s gelding won twice over this trip over hurdles so there is no questioning his stamina but he could find another Henderson novice, TOP NOTCH, too good here. Though not the biggest, the latter has taken well to fencing and made a race of it with Yorkhill in the JLT at Cheltenham, despite a crucial mistake two out. Flying Angel was tailed off in that race and looks to have little chance of overturning the form. Frodon didn’t run at The Festival but has won six of his nine chase starts, including a Grade 2 and a Grade 3, and deserves another crack at this level.
Cloudy Dream (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, closed on inside 4 out, traveling well 3 out, left close 2nd 2 out, stayed on flat but not pace of winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Altior (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Cyrius Moriviere (FR) 4-1fav (11-9) Led, mistake 6 out, soon pushed along, headed 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Flying Angel (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear from 3rd, badly hampered and lost ground 11th, no danger after, 6th of 8, dist behind Yorkhill (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) gd in Mar.
Frodon (FR) 8-11fav (11-5) Raced keenly, tracked leader, led 7th, narrowly headed 4 out, in front again next, clear before the last, driven out, won at Kempton 2m 4f (1) gd in Feb beating Gold Present (11-4) by 2l, 4 ran.
Max Ward (IRE) 9-2cfav (11-9) Held up in touch, headway 3 out, led before next, ran on well, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar beating Sir Note (11-8) by 5l, 7 ran.
Top Notch (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, left close up in 3rd 4 out, every chance when hit 2 out, driven to chase front pair before last, soon ridden, rallied to chase winner final 100 yards, held near finish, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Yorkhill (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) gd in Mar.
