tracked leading pair, hit 4 out, 2nd briefly before 3 out, weakened soon after
led and set decent pace, increaed tempo before 4th, hit 4 out, pushed along and headed after last, one pace in 3rd run-in
tracked leader until before 3 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching next
held up in last pair, pushed along briefly after 4 out, ridden and outpaced before 2 out, plugged on again run-in, never going pace to threaten
held up in rear, smooth headway on bit into 3rd before 2 out, challenged last, quickened to lead final 100 yards
held up in 4th, pushed along and went 2nd 3 out, ridden to lead after last, headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards, kept on
Parlour Games was receiving 3lb when beating subsequent Grade 2 winner Blaklion over this trip at Cheltenham and there may not be much to choose between the pair today, though the latter is possibly better over a bit further. Native River stayed on strongly to land a decent contest at Newcastle last month but more will be needed here and One Track Mind blotted his copybook when odds-on at Chepstow and is best watched. Arpege D'Alene won by nine lengths at Ascot and could be anything but it will take a smart performance to lower the colours of VYTA DU ROC. Though just holding off Shantou Bob at Sandown last time, he's now unbeaten in four starts in this country and has more options now that he's proved he stays this longer trip.
Arpege D'alene (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Jumped well, 2nd 4 out, chased leading pair, shaken up and closed between last two, led approaching last, ridden and came clear flat, stayed on strongly, won at Ascot 2m 3f NH mdn hdl (3) gs in Nov beating Its A Sting (11-0) by 9l, 13 ran.
Blaklion 9-4 (11-7) Tracked leaders, challenged after 3 out, led before next, drew clear approaching last, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl G2 (1) gs beating Anteros (11-4) by 11l, 6 ran.
Native River (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Reluctantly led, set steady pace, made all, driven 3 out, ridden and hard pressed between last 2, stayed on well towards finish, won at Newcastle 2m 6f nh nov hdl (2) sft in Nov beating Definitly Red (10-12) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
One Track Mind (IRE) 4-6fav (11-5) Prominent, hampered 1st, mistake 3rd, jinked right and unseated rider bend after next, in a race won by Sidbury Hill (10-5) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs, 16 ran.
Parlour Games 10-1 (11-4) Held up in 4th, headway on outside 3 out, effort last, driven to lead flat, soon ridden clear, ran on, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Nov beating Blaklion (11-7) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Vyta Du Roc (FR) 7-4fav (11-7) Tracked leading pair, closer in 2nd after 3 out, dropped to 3rd briefly before 2 out, stayed on between last two, led last, hard driven run-in, all out, won at Sandown 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) sft beating Shantou Bob (11-4) by ns, 5 ran.
