tracked leader, led after 3 out, drew clear between last 2, ridden out flat, comfortably
led, not fluent 6th, headed after 3 out, one pace next, no chance with winner between last 2, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, lost well beaten 2nd near finish
chased leaders early, behind from 3rd, outpaced 4 out, soon lost touch, tailed off
held up mainly in 4th, headway to track leaders 3 out, outpaced before before next, ridden and stayed on to take narrow 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
tracked front pair, outpaced after 3 out, ridden and stayed on to dispute well beaten 2nd flat, no extra towards finish
NonRunner
FOX NORTON just failed to haul-in Special Tiara in a thrilling finish to the Champion Chase here in March but had beaten the latter easily enough when winning last year’s renewal of this. Colin Tizzard’s charge ended last season with a couple of Grade 1 victories and makes most appeal given the front-running Special Tiara was also beaten by Sir Valentino at Kempton last year and Simply Ned found the selection much too good in this. Cloudy Dream was beaten by Altior in the Arkle here in March and picked-up a Grade 2 at Ayr later while Vaniteux finished a long way behind runner-up Special Tiara in a Grade 1 chase at Sandown in April.
Fox Norton (FR) 5-2 (11-12) Soon raced in 4th, mainly 3rd after 4th, slight mistake 5th, not fluent 3 out and pushed along, challenged before last, led and stayed on best from early run-in, won at Punchestown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr beating Un De Sceaux (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Special Tiara 4-1 (11-7) Led, hard pressed after 3 out, headed after next, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression with winner after last, 2nd of 4, 8l behind Altior (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) gd in Apr.
Vaniteux (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, kept on under pressure from next, never near leaders, 7th of 15, 20 1/2l behind Foxtail Hill (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Cloudy Dream (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Towards rear, headway 10th, tracked leaders 5 out, went 2nd 2 out, soon poised to challenge, almost upsides when not much room on inside and not fluent last, ridden and not quicken flat, switched right and stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Smad Place (11-3) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Oct.
Simply Ned (IRE) 10-3fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 8th, in 4th before 2 out, kept on well from last, went 2nd near finish, well held by winner, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Forest Bihan (11-12) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Sir Valentino (FR) 16-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, chased leaders 6th, blundered next, soon outpaced, weakened 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
