led, not fluent 3rd, headed approaching 3 out, soon no chance with winner, one pace after, lost 2nd after last
held up in touch in mid-division, closed before 6th, ridden in 5th approaching 3 out, soon well held by winner, 4th from 2 out
held up towards rear, mistake 4 out, soon well behind, pulled up before 3 out
towards rear on inside, pushed along on bend after 3rd, outpaced next, still in rear when fell 4 out
tracked leaders on outside, ridden after 4 out, no impression on winner from 3 out, mistake 2 out, went 2nd after last, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, pushed along after 5th, ridden and weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, not always fluent, progress into 6th after 4 out, never on terms, well held when not fluent 2 out, blundered last
tracked leaders on inside, ridden when mistake 3 out, weakened next
tracked leader, led before 3 out, soon went clear, impressive
After only finishing fourth behind Footpad at Leopardstown in February, Ivanovich Gorbatov reversed the form in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham where he finished a length-and-a-quarter ahead of another Willie Mullins juvenile, Apple's Jade. But there will be plenty of give in the ground today and that could blunt the speed of Aidan O'Brien's Flat-bred gelding. Footpad was given plenty to do at Cheltenham and could get a lot closer this time but Sceau Royal had every chance and it's difficult to see Alan King's entry turning the form around. Paul Nicholls won this last year with All Yours, who had run earlier in the Fred Winter. DIEGO DU CHARMIL follows the same route and is still something of an unknown quantity. He beat stablemate Romain De Senam in the Fred Winter in a much quicker time than Ivanovich Gorbatov's victory in the Triumph carrying a pound more. Romain De Senam is entitled to reverse Cheltenham form with the selection on better terms but doesn't have the same scope and may be a stayer in the making. Khezerabad can reverse Kempton running with the free-going Azzuri and is well regarded, though needs more.
Azzuri 25-1 (10-12) Led, set strong pace and soon 6 lengths clear, drew further 15 lengths clear before 4 out, mistake next, not fluent when headed last, kept on, 2nd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Zubayr (10-12) at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Feb.
Diego Du Charmil (FR) 13-2 (11-1) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, led just before last, driven flat, just held on, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Mar beating Romain De Senam (11-4) by hd, 22 ran.
Doubly Clever (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, stayed on approaching last, kept on flat, unable to reach leaders, 5th of 22, 4 3/4l behind Diego Du Charmil (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Footpad (FR) 5-1 (11-0) Held up behind, pushed along 2 out, headway under pressure on inside between last 2, went 3rd before last, kept on, not pace to touble front pair, 3rd of 15, 7 1/4l behind Ivanovich Gorbatov (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gd in Mar.
Ivanovich Gorbatov (IRE) 9-2fav (11-0) Held up in touch, headway 2 out, tracked leader between last 2, upsides last, ridden to lead final 120 yards, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gd in Mar beating Apple's Jade (10-7) by 1 1/4l, 15 ran.
Khezerabad (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Held up in touch in chasing group, not fluent 3rd, slow next, headway 3 out, no impression, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Zubayr (10-12) at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Feb.
Romain De Senam (FR) 20-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway from 3 out, left pressing for places last, hung right flat, ran on and went 2nd, closing near finish, just held, 2nd of 22, hd behind Diego Du Charmil (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Sceau Royal (FR) 8-1 (11-0) In touch on inside, ridden to chase leaders before last, never on terms, weakened from last, 12th of 15, 25l behind Ivanovich Gorbatov (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gd in Mar.
Apple's Jade (FR) 12-1 (10-7) Always prominent, led after 3 out, driven between last 2, hard pressed approaching last, soon ridden, headed final 120 yards, kept on, held towards finish, 2nd of 15, 1 1/4l behind Ivanovich Gorbatov (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gd in Mar.
