held up in rear, steady headway from 8th, hampered 10th, not fluent 13th, close 3rd 19th, not much room bend before 2 out, soon came through to lead, clear from last, stayed on well
held up towards rear, headway bypassing normal 3 out, went 3rd last, stayed on well and went 2nd final 100 yards, unable to trouble winner
mid-division, blundered badly and lost place 5th, mistake 7th and 8th, pulled up before 9th
held up towards rear, closed from 13th, went 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner last, lost 2nd 100 yards out
tracked leaders, ridden and unable to go with leaders last, stayed on same pace
prominent, brought down 10th
held up in mid-division on outside, hampered 10th, lost place before 13th, tailed off 17th, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, pushed along before 15th, beaten off last bend, weakened between last 2
led until 2nd, led 3rd until 4th, with leader, mistake 5th, fell 10th
landed awkwardly and unseated rider 1st
prominent, led 2nd, not fluent and headed next, led 4th, headed 11th, led 15th, hit next and headed, bumped on last bend, weakened quickly and pulled up before 2 out
slow away, headway to chase leaders 3rd, led 11th, headed 15th, led again 16th, headed before 2 out, stayed on but no impression on leaders flat
held up towards rear on inside, not fluent 3rd, headway after 19th, soon niggled along, ridden and weakened before 2 out
mid-division, hampered and lost place 10th, last when stumbled 12th, behind when pulled up before 17th
chased leaders on outside, blundered and lost place 6th, outpaced and struggling from 15th, hampered before 2 out, passed 2 rivals flat
held up in rear, ridden and headway after 19th, weakened before 2 out
Willie Mullins still hasn’t won a Gold Cup but has had the runner-up four times in the last six years. His luck will change sooner or later and Kemboy looks to be an improving young chaser. Al Boum Photo is very useful when he gets his act together but Invitation Only has plenty to find on the form book and Bellshill has yet to prove he is up to this level. NATIVE RIVER shares top rating and is looking to become the first horse since Best Mate to defend chasing’s Blue Riband so he shouldn’t be underestimated. He out-battled Might Bite last year when the first two pulled well clear and is a relentless galloper who jumps well and goes on soft. The 3m around Kempton in the King George was an insufficient test of stamina and he’d run well behind Haydock specialist Bristol De Mai in the Betfair Chase earlier so may well to be the one to beat again. Clan Des Obeaux won the King George, beating Thistlecrack a length-and-a-half, and then landed the odds in the Denman Chase at Ascot but he’s been a beaten favourite around here in three of his four previous visits and a strongly-run race over 3m2f could expose stamina doubts. Presenting Percy is a threat to all, however, being 2-2 on the track. He won the RSA Chase here a year ago but this will be his first run since over fences, though the going is in his favour.
Al Boum Photo (FR) 2-1fav (11-12) Prominent, soon 3rd, disputed lead briefly 10th, slight mistake 12th, led from 5 out, went on travelling smoothly 3 out, pressed and ridden after 2 out, asserted from before last where edged right briefly on landing, stayed on well, won at Tramore 2m 5f lst (1) sft in Jan beating Total Recall (11-2) by 6l, 7 ran.
Anibale Fly (FR) 13-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders in 3rd, not fluent at 3rd, dropped to last at 8th, ridden 5 out, went 2nd 3 out, no impression on winner next, stayed on well run-in, not reach winner, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Monalee (11-10) at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) Yielding - Soft in Feb.
Bellshill (IRE) 2-1 (11-10) Led, mistake 7th, headed 9th, disputed briefly again next, disputed lead 3 out, headed entering straight, pushed along in 2nd approaching last, ridden at last, improved to dispute lead close home, led last strides, won at Leopardstown 3m (1) gd in Feb beating Road To Respect (11-10) by shd, 4 ran.
Bristol De Mai (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, mistake 1st, fell 9th, at Kempton 3m (1) gs in Dec.
Clan Des Obeaux (FR) 2-5fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 5th, closer 4 out, travelling well 2 out, good jump to lead last, quickened easily clear, won at Ascot 3m (1) gs in Feb beating Terrefort (11-3) by 11l, 4 ran.
Definitly Red (IRE) 1-6fav (11-8) Led, pushed along after 3 out, joined next, soon headed, switched right before last, edged left flat, unable to get back on terms, last of 2, 2l behind Captain Redbeard (10-12) at Kelso 2m 7f (2) gd in Feb.
Double Shuffle (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led and disputed, led 4 out, joined next, soon ridden, headed 2 out, kept on gamely run-in, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Walt (10-6) at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Elegant Escape (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Tracked winner, mistake 11th, slow 14th, lost 2nd next, outpaced after 3 out, rallied before last, stayed on to close on winner flat, held close home, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Frodon (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) gs in Jan.
Invitation Only (IRE) 4-1fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, headway 4 out, went 2nd and slight mistake next, mistake 2 out, pushed along and led last, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp sft in Jan beating Alpha Des Obeaux (11-9) by 1 1/4l, 18 ran.
Kemboy (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Held up early, soon mid-division, swift progress to lead before 8th, pressed 5 out, joined before 2 out, led travelling best early straight, ridden last, kept on strongly run to go clear, won at Leopardstown 3m (1) gd in Dec beating Monalee (11-10) by 7 1/2l, 11 ran.
Might Bite (IRE) 3-1fav (11-10) Tracked leader, mistake 13th, ridden after 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 10, 36 3/4l behind Clan Des Obeaux (11-10) at Kempton 3m (1) gs in Dec.
Native River (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) In touch, headway 10th, outpaced 4 out, rallied after 2 out, stayed on run in, 3rd of 10, 13 1/2l behind Clan Des Obeaux (11-10) at Kempton 3m (1) gs in Dec.
Presenting Percy 9-4fav (11-8) Mid-division on outer, 6th halfway, headway 3 out and progress to lead next, pushed along approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Gowran Park 3m (1) sft in Jan beating Bapaume (11-8) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Thistlecrack 15-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, headway to lead 14th, ridden after 3 out, headed approaching last, kept on, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Clan Des Obeaux (11-10) at Kempton 3m (1) gs in Dec.
Yala Enki (FR) 6-1fav (11-12) Chased leaders, lost place approaching and slow 4th, mistake 16th, weakened next, 5th of 15, dist behind Robinsfirth (11-4) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Shattered Love (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Mid-division, closer in 4th before 2 out, slight mistake 2 out, soon lost position, ridden and no extra entering straight, 10th of 11, 33 3/4l behind Kemboy (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) gd in Dec.
