jumped right at times, led, not fluent 15th, fell 17th
rear of mid-division, in rear after 12th, hampered and lost further ground 17th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, left 3rd 17th, switched left before leading 2 out, ridden and headed last, no impression on winner final 150 yards
in touch in mid-division, left 4th when slightly hampered 17th, trying to squeeze through to challenge when short of room and lost place before 2 out, went 3rd before last, no impression
towards rear, outpaced in 6h 4 out, well beaten next
held up in rear, not fluent 5th or 6th, headway on outside after 16th, not fluent 18th or 3 out, switched right before 2 out, led last, stayed on strongly to draw clear final 150 yards
chased leader, left in lead 17th, headed and losing place when fell 2 out
rear of mid-division, pushed along 6th, struggling 11th, behind next, pulled up before 13th
chased leaders on inside, lost some ground 3rd, not fluent 10th, outpaced in rear 13th, slightly hampered 17th, behind next, stayed on well from 2 out, went 4th towards finish
held up in touch, closed 3rd, left 2nd 17th, led before 2 out, soon headed, no extra flat, lost 4th towards finish
in rear on outside, not fluent 3rd, hampered 17th, well beaten after, plugged on from 2 out
held up in mid-division, closed 10th, lost place and hit 16th, brought down next
never going well in rear, not much room 6th, behind and clambered over 9th, pulled up before 11th
Bravemansgame has only been beaten once so far over fences and has moved up another level this term, beating Royale Pagaille by 14 lengths in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day with Eldorado Allen and old rival Ahoy Senor well beaten. The latter went on to beat Sounds Russian, Noble Yeats and Protektorat in the Cotswold Chase here. Second to Minella Indo in this in 2021, A PLUS TARD comprehensively reversed that form with his stablemate 12 months ago. Something was clearly amiss on his reappearance and he wouldn’t be running in this if connections didn’t think he was right. Hewick also has an absence to overcome but showed himself to be better than a handicapper last season. He’s versatile as to distance but soft going wouldn’t be in his favour. Galopin Des Champs’ only defeat over fences to date came when he fell at the last in the Golden Miller here last year. He’s been a hot favourite for this since trouncing Stattler in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown last month and is unlikely to be far away even if he’s not met opposition of this quality and quantity before.
Ahoy Senor (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Jumped right at times, led 1st, headed before 5th, stayed handy, mistake 13th, not fluent 16th, pushed along and slightly outpaced 4 out, stayed on from after 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, led approaching last where not fluent, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) sft in Jan beating Sounds Russian (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
A Plus Tard (FR) 1-2fav (11-10) Jumped right on occasion, held up in rear, pecked 14th, soon nudged along, in touch approaching 4 out when jumped right and slow, weakened quickly and pulled up before next, at Haydock 3m 2f (1) sft in Nov.
Bravemansgame (FR) 11-4 (11-10) Chased leaders and raced wide, lost place briefly 9th, went 2nd 3 out, soon challenging, ridden to lead and 1 length ahead before last, left further clear last, won at Kempton 3m (1) sft in Dec beating Royale Pagaille (11-10) by 14l, 9 ran.
Conflated (IRE) 2-1fav (11-10) Tracked leader, disputed 9th, soon led, joined again 5 out, better jump to lead 3 out, pushed out to assert before last, kept on strongly run-in, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Dec beating Kemboy (11-10) by 5l, 7 ran.
Eldorado Allen (FR) 5-2 (11-8) Tracked leader, slight lead on inside after 3rd, headed 4 out, lost 2nd approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened soon after 3 out, 5th of 7, 23 1/4l behind Zanza (11-2) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gd in Feb.
Galopin Des Champs (FR) 3-10fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, 5th 3 out, 4th when left close 3rd next, went 2nd and pushed along entering straight, disputed lead when bumped at last, led after last, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, won at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Feb beating Stattler (11-10) by 8l, 7 ran.
Hewick (IRE) 2-1 (11-2) When ready,drew off, won at Far Hills 2m 5f stks fst in Oct beating Noah And The Ark (11-2) by 11 1/2l, 9 ran.
Minella Indo (IRE) 7-4 (11-0) Disputed lead, headed after 2nd, ridden to lead 2 out, not fluent last, soon headed run-in, rallied to lead close home, won at Tramore 2m 6f (1) hvy in Jan beating Stattler (11-8) by nk, 5 ran.
Noble Yeats (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) In rear, ridden before 4 out, headway after 3 out, went 3rd from after 2 out, stayed on flat, unable to challenge, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Ahoy Senor (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Protektorat (FR) 5-4fav (11-10) Chased leaders on inside, switched right before 13th, closed next, went 2nd 3 out until before 2 out, soon well held, stayed on final 100 yards, 4th of 6, 5 1/4l behind Ahoy Senor (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Royale Pagaille (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders out wide, hit 3rd, pushed along before 14th, ridden and rallied under pressure before 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, left modest 2nd at the last, 2nd of 9, 14l behind Bravemansgame (11-10) at Kempton 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Sounds Russian (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Chasing leader 2nd, not fluent 13th, went 2nd next, led 16th, hit 4 out, not fluent 3 out, headed before last, stayed on, no impression on winner towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Ahoy Senor (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Stattler (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, disputed lead 3 out, ridden and headed after next, 3rd before last, soon no impression on winner, kept on to go 2nd last strides, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Galopin Des Champs (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Feb.
