held up in touch in 5th, outpaced 12th, detached from 5 out, plugged on from after 3 out, went 4th towards finish, no impression
led, headed and not fluent 4th, lost place before 8th, headway before 3 out, weakened from before last
tracked leaders, led 13th, ridden before 2 out, headed before last, kept on and held towards finish
in rear, headway before 10th, pushed along and weakened from 14th, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leader, led 4th, mistake and headed 13th, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
in touch, went 2nd before 4 out, ridden before 3 out, outpaced 2 out, kept on to take 3rd before last
towards rear, headway 12th, ridden to go 2nd before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, led before last, held on towards finish
CUE CARD won this last year after falling in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on his previous start. He returns in similar circumstances and can put a smile back on the face of trainer Colin Tizzard on a track that suits. Silviniaco Conti won this in 2014 and 2015 but he’s had a rear view of the selection on several occasions since and is looking a light of former days. Tea For Two also looks held on the form book but Aso ran a cracker when third in the Ryanair and was just ahead of the slightly disappointing Empire Of Dirt. Bristol De Mai finished one place and seven lengths ahead of Smad Place in the gold Cup but probably falls just short of the standard required to win a race like this.
Aso (FR) 40-1 (11-10) Mid-division, tracked leaders 7th, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden after next, lost place last, kept on same pace, no impression with front pair flat, 3rd of 8, 7 1/2l behind Un De Sceaux (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gd in Mar.
Bristol De Mai (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Prominent, led 2nd, headed next, stayed handy, hit 3 out, soon ridden, 6th and beaten when blundered last, weakened flat, 7th of 13, 19 3/4l behind Sizing John (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) gd in Mar.
Cue Card 9-2 (11-10) Mid-division, not fluent 11th, not clear run and switched right before 16th, niggled along after 4 out, yet to really close when fell 3 out, at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) gd in Mar.
Empire Of Dirt (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) Held up in last pair, reminders and under pressure after 11th, outpaced after 3 out, ridden after next, kept on under pressure before last, no impression in 4th flat, 4th of 8, 9l behind Un De Sceaux (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gd in Mar.
Silviniaco Conti (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Prominent, lost place 14th, well behind 4 out, 4th of 7, dist behind Many Clouds (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Smad Place (FR) 50-1 (11-10) In touch, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 8th of 13, 26 3/4l behind Sizing John (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) gd in Mar.
Tea For Two 40-1 (11-10) Held up in rear when bad mistake and unseated rider 2nd, at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) gd in Mar.
