held up towards rear, driven to chase leaders after 4 out, outpaced next, went 4th 2 out, plugged on, no chance with leading trio
led, mistake 7th, blundered 5 out, headed after next, soon ridden, lost place 3 out, weakened next
held up towards rear, pushed along 12th, never near leaders, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader, mistake 14th, led after 4 out, headed next, ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, well held in clear 3rd before last
held up behind, struggling 14th, never a threat, tailed off 4 out
mid-division, settled towards rear from 7th, chased leaders 4 out, soon outpaced, weakened next, pulled up before 2 out
held up in touch, went 3rd at 12th, hit 3 out, challenged after next, ridden to lead before last, asserted clear final 110 yards
tracked front pair on outside, lost place 12th, soon behind and struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up in touch, tracked leaders on outside 5 out, led 3 out, ridden when hard pressed after next, headed before last, kept on, well held in clear 2nd final 110 yards
NonRunner
The champion trainer had the option of running TERREFORT over a shorter trip here yesterday so it’s significant that the grey, runner-up in the JLT Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, turns up in this instead. This will be his first try over 3m but his half-brother Vino Griego stays the trip and was second over 3m1f here in 2014. Elegant Escape and Black Corton are old rivals but the former did best last month in the RSA Chase and will almost certainly run his race again. Coo Star Sivola has been much improved since stepping up to staying trips but takes the leap out of handicaps into a Grade 1. Ms Parfois was no match for Black Corton at Ascot prior to running a cracker in the National Hunt Chase but she’ll be staying on when others have cried enough. Another mare, Mia's Storm, started favourite for the Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day but she was never travelling and made mistakes before falling – she’ll need to jump much better to keep up with some of these.
Black Corton (FR) 5-1 (11-4) Jumped low and hit the top of several fences, pressed leader, led after 2nd, mistake 3rd, headed 3 out, soon outpaced and beaten, left modest 3rd last, no extra and dropped to 5th flat, 5th of 10, 17 1/4l behind Presenting Percy (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m sft in Mar.
Captain Chaos (IRE) 8-15fav (11-8) Made virtually all, not fluent and went left 8th, shaken up after 4 out, ridden before next, hard pressed 2 out, battled gamely when joined flat, found extra near finish, won at Market Rasen 3m (3) sft in Feb beating Militarian (10-12) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Coo Star Sivola (FR) 5-1fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, led next, ridden after 2 out, kept on well when hard pressed inside final 100 yards, just held on, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) hvy in Mar beating Shantou Flyer (11-9) by nk, 18 ran.
Elegant Escape (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Led, dived at 1st, headed after 2nd, tracked leader until after 7th, ridden after 4 out, still in touch on outside 3 out, soon outpaced, went 3rd but no impression flat, 3rd of 10, 14l behind Presenting Percy (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m sft in Mar.
Hogan's Height (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Led, headed 4th, remained close up, regained lead 10th clear before last, kept on well, won at Haydock 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Hills Of Dubai (10-9) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Snow Falcon (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Mid-division early, 13th from 12th, hampered and unseated rider 13th, at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp hvy in Apr.
Terrefort (FR) 3-1fav (11-3) With leader, led after 3 out, hard pressed next, ridden and headed between last 2, kept on same pace, no chance with winner in clear 2nd flat, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Shattered Love (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Mar.
Testify (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) In touch, pressed leader from 4th, hit and lost place 4 out, soon pushed along, weakened from next, 11th of 19, 33 1/4l behind Mister Whitaker (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar.
Ms Parfois (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Led 2nd, headed 6th, stayed prominent, hit 2 out when challenging, led narrowly 75 yards out, soon headed, held close home, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Rathvinden (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m (1) sft in Mar.
Mia's Storm (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Held up in rear, hit 3rd, headway 12th, pushed along disputing 4th when fell 5 out, at Kempton 3m (1) sft in Dec.
