mid-division, hit 5th, mistake 8th, closed going well after 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, led 2 out, clear before last, stayed on strongly, eased close home
held up towards rear, headway into 4th 3 out, no impression and jumped right 2 out, well held 5th when jumped right last
jumped right, prominent, led 3rd, headed before 9th, driven after 4 out, weakened next
chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, went close 2nd after 4 out, 3rd and one pace after 2 out, no impression and lost 3rd close home
held up towards rear, reminders after 7th, struggling in last and more reminders after next, eased and pulled up before 9th
prominent, led before 9th, headed 11th, led next, ridden and headed 2 out, no impression on winner before last, stayed on, eased close home
held up towards rear, last before 5th, closed on outside approaching 9th, outpaced after 4 out, well held from next
held up in rear, pushed along 10th, well held 3 out, went 4th and plugged on from after 2 out, took 3rd close home, no impression
led, tended to back off the early fences, headed 3rd, led 11th, headed next, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
GOD’S OWN was behind Fox Norton and Top Gamble when only fifth in last month’s Champion Chase at Cheltenham but looked about to mount a challenge to the first two when trying to take the second last by the roots. He’s not finished out of the first two in three previous runs around here and won this last year after failing to reach a place at The Festival so is expected to close again. Sub Lieutenant won a Grade 2 at Down Royal in the autumn and finished an excellent second in the Ryanair last month when ahead of both Josses Hill and Uxizandre, who disappointed. He won’t be far away with a similar effort but Royal Regatta and Kylemore Lough were getting weight from the selection when 1-2 at Ascot in November.
Fox Norton (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, pecked 6th, outpaced after 3 out, rallied approaching last, went 2nd flat, stayed on well, just failed, 2nd of 10, hd behind Special Tiara (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
God's Own (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Held up in mid-division on outside, headway 8th, mistake and lost place 4 out, rallied to chase winner 3 out, bad error 2 out, lost 2nd last, one pace and no impression flat, 5th of 10, 7 1/4l behind Special Tiara (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Josses Hill (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, driven before 2 out, not pace to get on terms, weakened after last, 5th of 8, 18l behind Un De Sceaux (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gd in Mar.
Kylemore Lough 8-1 (11-6) Took keen hold, held up, headway 5th, tracking leaders 16th, pushed along before 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 7, dist behind Many Clouds (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Royal Regatta (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Led, joined 4 out, narrowly headed next, chased winner, pushed along and already held when blundered 2 out, weakened, lost 2nd run-in, 3rd of 6, 18 3/4l behind Cue Card (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb.
Sub Lieutenant (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, dropped to mid-division after 6th, outpaced 3 out, headway under pressure next, soon ridden, went 2nd last, kept on flat, not reach winner, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Un De Sceaux (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gd in Mar.
Top Gamble (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Mid-division, in touch 4 out, outpaced next, stayed on flat, finished well and just failed to get 3rd, 4th of 10, 6 1/4l behind Special Tiara (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Traffic Fluide (FR) 50-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear on inside, outpaced 3 out, stayed on flat, unable to get competitive, 6th of 10, 7 1/2l behind Special Tiara (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Uxizandre (FR) 6-1 (11-10) Led to before 6th, chased winner, ridden and lost place after 3 out, weakened from next, 7th of 8, 29 1/2l behind Un De Sceaux (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gd in Mar.
