held up, in touch, headway to dispute lead 11th, led 14th, headed 3 out, ridden after next, kept on and every chance when not fluent last, no extra in 3rd flat
chased leaders, on inside, lost place before 11th, soon outpaced, driven to chase leaders again after 5 out, ridden after next, rallied last, stayed on to chase winner flat, held near finish
in touch, on outside, not fluent 3rd, chased front pair after 5 out, led 3 out, ridden after next, hard pressed last, kept on well under pressure flat
led to 1st, prominent, lost place 9th, behind from next, struggling 12th, ridden after 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
in touch, went 2nd after 5 out, challenged next, soon ridden, lost place 2 out, no impression betwen last 2
led 1st, joined 11th, headed when blundered 14th, lost place after 5 out, ridden after next, weakened 3 out
not fluent 1st, prominent, hit and lost place 13th, driven to chase leaders before 4 out, weakened next
The classy Cue Card had plenty in hand when beating Dynaste in this last year when Menorah was pulled up. He'll no doubt try and make all again facing only six rivals but carries the maximum penalty and is unlikely to offer much in the way of value. Blaklion won the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in March and is very tough. But he's not very big so could have his limitations in top company exposed this season. Wakanda has plenty to prove on his reappearance while Irish Cavalier looks held and is better over shorter. A bit of rain would have helped VIRAK, who had no luck at all last season, but he's equipped to prosper if the leaders go off too quickly as he's getting weight from all-bar Dynaste.
Cue Card 4-6fav (11-10) Held up and ran freely, ridden in 4th entering straight, stayed on and closer 2 out, left challenging and slightly hampered, no extra in 3rd before last, kept on same pace run-in, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 6, 6 3/4l behind Carlingford Lough (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Menorah (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up, in rear, headway on outside 14th, pressing for 2nd when not fluent 3 out, one pace and beaten next, 5th of 19, 12 3/4l behind Drop Out Joe (10-6) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp lst (1) gd in Jun.
Irish Cavalier (IRE) 10-3fav (11-6) Held up in mid-division, headway 10th, chased leaders before 5 out, soon ridden, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 8, 18 1/2l behind Art Mauresque (10-10) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Wakanda (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, lost place 10th, tailed off when pulled up before last, at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Blaklion 3-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, effort 3 out, ridden to chase front pair after next, kept on same pace, well held in 3rd from last, 3rd of 8, 6 3/4l behind Native River (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Dynaste (FR) 20-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, 2nd 4 out until next, weakened approaching 2 out, 9th of 20, 17 1/2l behind The Young Master (11-1) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Virak (FR) 12-1 (11-12) With leader, led 4 out, ridden before 2 out, headed before last, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 12l behind Maggio (10-9) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Apr.
