jumped left at few times, tracked leader, mistake 7th (water), led after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, headed last, edged left into rival and led again flat, stayed on well and asserting towards finish
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 3 out, disputing 4th 2 out, switched right and unable to go with leaders, weakened flat
held up towards rear, slow 5th, headway on outside after 4 out, disputing 4th 2 out, jockey soon looking down and pulled up before last
held up in rear, took keen hold, headway to chase leaders 3 out, soon not clear run and lost place, effort on outside after 2 out, went 4th when hit last, hung left flat and kept on, no impression on leaders
keen early stages, chased leaders, short of room and lost place after 3 out, switched left before last, never able to get back involved
in rear, behind and struggling 7th, never involved after
chased leaders, effort from 3 out, driven and stayed on flat, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner
jumped right at times, led, headed after 3 out, weakened approaching last
chased leaders, effort after 3 out, challenged 2 out, led last, ridden, leant on by winner and headed flat, 3rd and held towards finish
This is likely to be a contest only in name if ALTIOR turns up at the top of his game, and there is no reason to suspect that he won’t. Still unbeaten over fences, seven of his 12 victories have come at the highest level including this race last year when he swept by Min up the hill to win by seven lengths with God’s Own and Politologue filling the next two places. Also a past winner of the Supreme Novices’ and the Arkle at this meeting, he hasn’t needed to run up to his best form this season and is impossible to oppose. Saint Calvados finished ahead of Sceau Royal in the Tingle Creek but both were well behind the Henderson superstar and the former was also beaten fair and square by Min and Ordinary World at Leopardstown last month.
Altior (IRE) 1-10fav (11-7) Tended to jump left, made all, quickened pace from 7th, clear next, went markedly left 4 out, unchallenged, won at Ascot 2m 1f (1) gs in Jan beating Fox Norton (11-7) by 7l, 3 ran.
Castlegrace Paddy (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Raced in 3rd, left in 2nd approaching 1st where fell, at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) gd in Feb.
God's Own (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway on inside 5 out, chased winner 3 out, effort next, jumped right last, kept on well, 2nd of 9, 8l behind Charbel (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (1) gs in Dec.
Hell's Kitchen 5-1 (11-10) Pulled hard, tracked leaders and wide, hit 2nd, tracked leader 8th, led 10th, went clear before 11th, 10 lengths ahead 3 out, lead dwindled run-in, held on, all out, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Janika (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Min (FR) 4-9fav (11-10) Raced in 4th, left in 3rd approaching 1st where left 2nd and slightly impeded, closed travelling smoothly from final fence, led over 1f out, quickly asserted, stayed on well, easily, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) gd in Feb beating Ordinary World (11-10) by 6l, 5 ran.
Ordinary World (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) In rear, slightly impeded 1st, jumped slightly right at times, closed approaching final fence, soon pushed along, 2nd final furlong, one pace, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Min (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) gd in Feb.
Politologue (FR) 4-1 (11-7) Raced wide, chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 6, 20 1/4l behind Cyrname (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gs in Feb.
Saint Calvados (FR) 4-1 (11-10) Raced in 2nd, left in lead approaching 1st, hit 6th, pushed along from final fence, headed over 1f out, dropped to last final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Min (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) gd in Feb.
Sceau Royal (FR) 11-10fav (11-2) Held up in 4th, tracked leaders after 3 out, ridden after next, pressed winner last, stayed on and every chance flat, just held, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Grand Sancy (11-4) at Wincanton 1m 7f (1) gd in Feb.
