held up, closed after 4th, slow 10th, outpaced from 4 out, weakened next
always behind, pulled up before 2 out
pressed leader until 7th, not fluent 8th, soon ridden and lost place, well behind 4 out, pulled up before next
led until 9th, 4th and no extra 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 6th, went 2nd before 2 out until last, one pace
tracked leaders, 2nd from 7th, led 9th, driven clear flat
chased leaders, jumped left 3rd, steadied after next, mistake 7th, headway after 3 out, went 2nd last, no impression on winner flat
UN DE SCEAUX was an easy winner of this last season at Ascot. Though beaten when odds-on in the Queen Mother Champion Chase here later, he returned from a break to land the Tingle Creek at Sandown last month and that’s the best form on offer. Special Tiara was just behind the Mullins’ chaser in the Champion Chase, however, and won the Desert Orchid at Kempton over Christmas, though a line through the second Sir Valentino suggests he’ll do well to overturn the selection. Uxizandre may need this and will probably be aimed at the Ryanair over further in March, though Barry Geraghty prefers him to handicapper Eastlake. Former champion Dodging Bullets is a shadow of his former self while Top Gamble would have preferred softer going. Royal Regatta is much better over longer trips nowadays.
Dodging Bullets 4-1 (11-0) Tracked winner, every chance before 2 out, beaten when lost 2nd last, one pace, 4th of 5, 12l behind Josses Hill (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (1) gs in Dec.
Eastlake (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, steady headway from 7th, left handy 3 out, challenged next, led last, hung right flat, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec beating Un Beau Roman (10-5) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Royal Regatta (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Made all, hit 6th, ridden before 2 out, held on, all out, won at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gs in Nov beating Kylemore Lough (11-7) by hd, 7 ran.
Special Tiara 8-11fav (11-0) Made all, clear 6th until 4 out, pushed along when left in command 2 out, went left last, ridden out, won at Kempton 2m (1) gd in Dec beating Sir Valentino (11-6) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Top Gamble (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up, towards rear, headway on outside 4 out, 3rd 2 out, stayed on, no impression on winner, closing on 2nd near finish, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Shantou Flyer (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Un De Sceaux (FR) 5-4fav (11-7) Tracked clear leader, led 8th, mistake and joined 2 out, slight lead when bad mistake last, ridden and headed briefly run-in, in front again and found extra to assert final 100 yards, won at Sandown 2m (1) gs in Dec beating Sire De Grugy (11-7) by 1l, 6 ran.
Uxizandre (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Made all, clear 8th until 4 out, jumped left and hit wing next, shaken up and found more to go 3 lengths clear last, ridden flat, ran on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gd in Mar beating Ma Filleule (11-3) by 5l, 14 ran.
