prominent, led 2nd, headed next, stayed handy, hit 3 out, soon ridden, 6th and beaten when blundered last, weakened flat
took keen hold, led until hit 2nd, prominent, led 7th, headed 15th, lost place 3 out, weakened next
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
tracked leaders going well, switched right before 16th, close 2nd 18th, led when mistake 2 out, soon headed, no extra and lost 2 places towards finish
not always fluent, mid-division on inside, lost place 4th, mistake 11th, behind 13th, pulled up before 17th
held up in rear, outpaced after 3 out, rallied last, soon went 4th, stayed on well flat, went 2nd post, no impression on winner
held up in rear, struggling after 3 out, effort on outside 2 out, never threatened, stayed on same pace
prominent, led 3rd, headed 7th, led 15th, not fluent 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat but no impression on winner, went 2nd towards finish, lost 2nd post
towards rear, not fluent 2nd, pushed briefly 14th, outpaced after next, struggling 4 out, well beaten when hampered 3 out
held up in touch on outside, lost a bit of ground on leaders 6th, closed 13th, 4th 2 out, no impression, stayed on same pace
held up in rear early, closed into mid-division 5th, effort after 4 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, stayed on well flat, ridden out
in touch, ridden and weakened before 2 out
held up in rear when bad mistake and unseated rider 2nd
NonRunner
Cue Card has won nine Grade 1 races and been successful twice at The Festival. He was prominent and travelling as well as anything when coming down three out in last year’s race and no-one would begrudge the 11-year-old a Gold Cup victory. However, he’s the oldest in this race and it might be that he’ll find a couple of his younger rivals have closed the gap in the last 12 months. Stablemate Native River was just beaten by Minella Rocco in last season’s National Hunt Chase but went one better in a Grade 1 novices’ event at Aintree. He’s already won the Hennessy, Welsh National and Denman Chase, easily beating Bristol De Mai on the latter occasion, this season and is deserving of his place in the line-up. Last year’s runner-up Djakadam and Outlander have been trading blows in Ireland recently and can’t be ignored but SIZING JOHN could improve past both. He was second to Douvan in last year’s Arkle but has been campaigned over further this season and battled well to beat Empire Of Dirt on his first try over 3m in the Irish Gold Cup last month. If Robbie Power can conserve his stamina, he could spring a surprise.
Bristol De Mai (FR) 10-11fav (11-6) Tracked rival pair, effort 3 out, ridden and one pace after next, no impression from last, last of 3, 9 1/4l behind Native River (11-6) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) sft in Feb.
Champagne West (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Led after 1st, mistake 5 out, travelled well 3 out and asserted after next, 5 lengths clear last and stayed on well run-in, won at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp sft in Jan beating Ucello Conti (10-10) by 7 1/2l, 18 ran.
Cue Card 4-9fav (11-7) Tracked leader and always travelling, challenged 4 out, led narrowly next, already asserted when left clear 2 out, easily, won at Ascot 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb beating Shantou Flyer (11-7) by 15l, 6 ran.
Djakadam (FR) 5-4fav (11-10) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 6th entering straight, stayed on into 4th last, challenged and every chance run-in, 3rd and kept on same pace closing stages, just held for 2nd, 3rd of 13, 2 1/4l behind Outlander (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Irish Cavalier (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Raced wide, tracked leaders, lost place 9th, soon behind, tailed off from 11th, 5th of 6, 24l behind Cue Card (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb.
Minella Rocco (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Held up, bad mistake and unseated rider 5th, at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Feb.
More Of That (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 3rd from 6th, closed on outer travelling smoothly into straight, pushed along approaching last where still every chance when virtually a faller and unseated rider, at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Native River (IRE) 11-10 (11-6) Made all, pressed 4 out, ridden after 2 out, 1 length advantage last, quickened clear flat, ran on well, won at Newbury 2m 7f (1) sft in Feb beating Le Mercurey (11-5) by 3 1/4l, 3 ran.
Outlander (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) Mid-division early, soon held up towards rear, closer in 8th at 10th, improved into 5th 2 out, ridden to challenge before last, disputed from last, kept on well run-in, asserted closing stages, won at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Dec beating Don Poli (11-10) by 2 1/4l, 13 ran.
Saphir Du Rheu (FR) 1-7fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, led 12th, clear from 2 out, readliy, won at Kelso 2m 7f (2) hvy in Feb beating Firth Of The Clyde (11-3) by 15l, 4 ran.
Sizing John 10-3 (11-10) Chased leaders, took keen hold early, slight mistake 6th, soon raced in 4th, closed up travelling smoothly 2 out, pushed along to lead last, stayed on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Feb beating Empire Of Dirt (11-10) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Smad Place (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Led until 7th, led before 9th, headed 4 out, every chance next, one pace in 3rd 2 out, no extra last, 3rd of 7, 17 1/4l behind Many Clouds (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Tea For Two 8-11fav (11-8) Took keen hold, held up 4th, went 3rd and not fluent 10th, left 2nd and hampered by faller 13th, pushed along before 4 out, challenged 4 out, led and one length up when left clear 3 out, won at Exeter 3m (2) sft in Feb beating Henri Parry Morgan (11-8) by 17l, 4 ran.
Empire Of Dirt (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) In rear, 5th at 9th, closed up travelling smoothly 2 out, pushed along on inner approaching last, not much room on rail closing stages, kept on well without getting to winner, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Sizing John (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Feb.
