in rear, went 3rd 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on one pace soon after
chased leaders, in rear from 4th, handy in 4th when blundered and fell 4 out
chased leaders in 3rd when blundered and fell 1st
jumped well, tracked leader and keen, led on bit 3 out, shaken up to go clear between last two, eased towards finish
led, headed 3 out, soon ridden, no chance with winner
With just four rivals to beat, Impek looks to hold solid claims of gaining a well-deserved success. Henrietta Knight's gelding has done nothing wrong in four starts over fences, meeting defeat for the first time when second to the high class Azertyuiop in the Arkle at Cheltenham. Paul Nicholls has decided not to send his star novice here and, in his absence, Impek should be too good for opponents. Nicholls does saddle two, Le Roi Miguel and Vol Solitaire, with narrow preference for the latter, who ran well when fourth in the Grand Annual last month, while his stable mate who was narrowly beaten by the selection at Sandown earlier in the season was an early faller in the Arkle. Tysou represents the stable of Nicky Henderson that has been badly out of form recently and, while the track should suit, he is best left out of calculations. Rathgar Beau looks out of his depth.
