in touch, ridden after 6th, weakened 3 out, badly hampered after 2 out
chased leaders until blundered badly and unseated rider 4 out
chased leaders, led 7th until mistake 3 out and headed, soon ridden, weakened after next
towards rear, outpaced 8th, stayed on from after 3 out, blundered last, never troubled leaders
led until 7th, chased leaders until weakened after 3 out
always towards rear, tailed off from 8th
tracked leaders, hit 7th, ridden to chase winner after 2 out, kept on well, no extra close home
held up in touch, headway after 7th, hampered 9th, led 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, fourth and beaten when blundered badly and unseated rider last
in touch until blundered badly 9th, pulled up before next
always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders until 4th, weakened approaching 8th, behind when badly hampered and unseated rider 2 out
held up behind, blundered badly 1st, fell 2nd
in touch, headway 8th, close fourth when fell 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 8th, ridden after 3 out, kept on, left third last
behind from 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, pecked 5th, steady headway from 7th, led after 2 out, soon ridden, kept on well under pressure, all out
There will be no quarter measures accepted here and this is a mouth-watering clash between some of the best horses Britain and Ireland has to offer in this particular division of the sport - with Thisthatandtother and Kicking King standing out at the top of the list. However, Caracciola, Our Armageddon and Well Chief along with Central House and Keltic Bard have all posted solid claims for this event during the course of the season and will all do their best to ensure this does not develop into the two-horse race many pundits are predicting. Caracciola probably caused one of the biggest upsets of the season when he landed the Wayward Lad Chase at Kempton just after Christmas but subsequently failed to uphold the form when Palua claimed his scalp in a tactical affair at the same course a month later. The Lando gelding had a legitimate excuse for that performance though and his trainer is confident that Caracciola can go out and do himself justice here. The same comments apply to Our Armageddon, who is closely matched with the Henderson horse on Haydock form and arrives here on the crest of a wave with six victories already to his name this season. Richard Guest will be really fired up to gain his first Festival winner as a trainer and it will be no surprise to see his charge cut out most of the running if he runs his usual race. However, he lacks experience of this course and will do very well to be still there when push comes to shove. Therefore, it may pay to side with the trio with proven form at Cheltenham and Kicking King is preferred over Thisthatandtother and Well Chief. Tom Taffe, whose father rode the legendary horse that this race is named after, has long stated this was the target for Kicking King and the son of Old Vic arrives here a profile to match previous winners of this race. Kicking King is a lightly raced type, who is in the right age group according to previous statistics for the race - which bodes well as he bids to uphold the form of last season's Supreme Novices Hurdle, where Thisthatandtother finished a good seven lengths behind him on the line. Therefore the highly regarded Well Chief may be the one to pose Taffe's charge the biggest problems. The Martin Pipe-trained five-year-old is also an improving sort who has already shown an aptitude for racing at pace over the larger obstacles. However, he is yet to face a rival of the Kicking King's potential and he may have to play second fiddle to the Irish raider today.
