led, mistake and headed 7th, pushed along in 3rd before 3 out, ridden and weakened before last
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, ridden to challenge and every chance last when left in lead soon after, kept on and headed near finish
tracked leader, led 7th, ridden and pressed after 2 out, a narrow lead when stumbled and fell on landing side of last
in touch, went 3rd before 3 out, ridden before last, soon left 2nd, kept on to lead near finish
in rear, weakened after 2 out
Charbel paid a heavy price for his one and only mistake in the Arkle at Cheltenham last month. He may well have made Altior work hard for victory had he stood up and would definitely have finished ahead of eventual fifth Forest Bihan. He’ll be hard to beat if that hasn’t affected his confidence but a chance is taken with POLITOLOGUE as the drop back to 2m should suit this free-going sort, who finished ahead of Thursday’s winner Flying Angel when fourth in the JLT at The Festival. Stablemate San Benedeto has done very well since reverting to the minimum over fences but now steps up from handicaps. Colla Pier has been placed a couple of times over the larger obstacles but looks to be well out of her depth in this.
Charbel (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Led, pushed along and still narrow advantage when fell 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Forest Bihan (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th, still rear but just about in touch when blundered badly 3 out, soon outpaced and left behind, modest 6th when swerved to avoid faller 2 out, plugged on to close on 4th flat, no impression, 5th of 9, 23l behind Altior (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Politologue (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Held up in touch on outer, tracked leaders after 4 out, ridden after 2 out, not pace of leaders before last, no impression in 4th after, 4th of 8, 10l behind Yorkhill (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) gd in Mar.
San Benedeto (FR) 11-4 (11-12) Tracked leading pair, 2nd 3 out, pushed along and 1 length down when left clear soon after 2 out, won at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Apr beating Imperial Presence (10-6) by 7l, 5 ran.
Colla Pier (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Behind, lost touch after 3 out, left remote 4th briefly next, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 6, dist behind Antartica De Thaix (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Mar.
