chased leaders on inside, mistake and lost a few places 5th, well in touch 12th, close 3rd 3 out, no impression on winner next, went left and mistake last, stayed on same pace flat
chased leaders, lost place from 3rd, struggling 8th, behind when mistake 13th
held up, struggling from 11th
in rear, not fluent 5th, behind from next, tailed off 9th, pulled up before 11th
held up towards rear, well beaten after 4 out, stayed on flat, never on terms
mid-division, headway approaching 8th, outpaced before 3 out, 5th 2 out, no impression, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, mistake 12th, outpaced before 3 out, well held next
in rear, mistake 2nd, struggling from 9th
led, not fluent 1st, headed next, tracked leader, ridden and every chance after 3 out, no impression on winner from next, stayed on same pace, lost 2nd last strides
prominent, mistake 4 out, lost place before next, eased down and pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, pushed along briefly before 8th, blundered 4 out, no impression, stayed on flat
held up towards rear, steady headway from 12th, tracking leaders 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on from 2 out, no impression on winner, took 2nd last strides
travelled well just behind leaders, challenged 13th, soon led, slightly awkward 3 out, clear from 2 out, easily
held up in mid-division, 9th but still not asked for any effort when fell 4 out
led 2nd, reached at 11th, headed after 13th, mistake 3 out, lost place before next, eased
This looks one of the best contests of the week but the Grade 1 hasn't been kind to the Irish since its inception, though there is plenty of confidence that Vautour will end their drought. Successful at the meeting last year, when stablemate Valseur Lido was beaten more than 15 lengths, he made a winning reappearance at Ascot and was only caught close home by Cue Card stepping up to 3m in the King George at Kempton. He runs in this instead of the Gold Cup and is sure to take all the beating but we expect the classy AL FEROF to get much closer than he did at Kempton. This is the latter's best trip as well and he goes well fresh. With the drying ground also in the grey's favour, he's a viable alternative to the favourite and may be allowed to start at decent odds. Road To Riches was third in last year's Gold Cup and has also been diverted to this shorter race this year. He's a proven Grade 1 performer who won't be far away while Taquin Du Seuil could run well with Jonjo O'Neill's string back in form. He won at The Festival in 2014 and a recent victory at Warwick will have blown away any cobwebs. Annacotty and Village Vic like it here but are hard to fancy in this company and 2014 winner Dynaste has become disappointing. Smashing definitely needs to step up while Vibrato Valtat's stamina may not last and he finished behind Josses Hill in last year's Arkle.
Al Ferof (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Towards rear, headway 4 out, soon ridden, left 3rd 2 out, not trouble leading pair, 3rd of 9, 13 1/4l behind Cue Card (11-10) at Kempton 3m (1) gs in Dec.
Annacotty (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Tracked leader, challenged 4 out (usual 5 out), led last (usual 2 out), soon ridden, kept on under pressure flat, held on towards finish (4 fences omitted), won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan beating Tenor Nivernais (11-6) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Captain Conan (FR) 15-2 (11-0) Led until 7th, pushed along 5 out, weakened before next, 3rd of 4, 37l behind Top Gamble (11-5) at Newbury 2m (1) sft in Feb.
Champagne West (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Pulled hard in midfield, mistake 5 out, under pressure when fell 2 out, at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Dynaste (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, jumped left throughout, effort 3 out, kept on approaching last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 20l behind Silviniaco Conti (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb.
Gilgamboa (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Towards rear, pushed along and some headway from 3 out, slight mistake 2 out, one pace into straight, 5th of 10, 25 1/2l behind Carlingford Lough (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) hvy in Feb.
Josses Hill (IRE) 10-11fav (11-0) Made all, pressed 2 out, soon ridden, clear last, stayed on well, won at Kempton 2m 4f (2) sft in Feb beating God's Own (11-7) by 8l, 4 ran.
Oscar Rock (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Mid-division, effort 10th, outpaced 4 out, well beaten when not fluent 3 out, 12th of 20, 34 1/4l behind Annacotty (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Road To Riches (IRE) 5-4fav (11-10) Led early, not fluent 2nd, chased leader in 3rd, tended to jump slightly left and not always fluent, on terms briefly from 10th, pushed along from 3 out, led from next, headed before last, left in lead briefly, soon headed and one pace, 2nd of 10, 12l behind Carlingford Lough (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) hvy in Feb.
Smashing (FR) 9-10fav (11-6) Led, joined briefly from 8th, still travelling smoothly straight, jumped slightly right last 3, asserted 2 out, stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) hvy in Feb beating Morning Assembly (11-3) by 11l, 4 ran.
Taquin Du Seuil (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 13th, led before 2 out, clear approaching last, stayed on well, won at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Niceonefrankie (11-5) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.
Valseur Lido (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Soon chased leaders, moderate 4th at 7th, closed up 3 out, travelling smoothly from next, led before last where pecked badly and unseated rider, at Leopardstown 3m (1) hvy in Feb.
Vautour (FR) 3-1 (11-10) Keen, tracked leader, led 11th, ridden 2 out, headed final strides, 2nd of 9, hd behind Cue Card (11-10) at Kempton 3m (1) gs in Dec.
Vibrato Valtat (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, mistake 7th, under pressure after 3 out, weakened after next, 4th of 5, 10 1/4l behind Un De Sceaux (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Village Vic (IRE) 7-2fav (10-10) Made virtually all, mistake 2nd, clear last, driven flat, stayed on gamely, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan beating Tenor Nivernais (10-11) by 3l, 11 ran.
