chased leaders, lost place approaching and slow 4th, mistake 16th, weakened next
behind, under pressure 10th, soon struggling, pulled up before 14th
mid-division, hampered 14th, headway 5 out, soon chasing leaders, every chance 3 out, weakened after next, tailed off, remote 4th
mid-division, mistake 9th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up 16th
in touch, headway 5 out, soon chasing leaders, led before 3 out, headed after last, kept on well under pressure
mid-division, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, ridden to challenge after 2 out, stayed on under pressure to lead after last, all out
mid-division, lost place 6th, soon beaten, behind when pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, left in 2nd 14th, lost place 5 out, unseated rider next
tracked leader, fell 14th
held up in rear, headway 5 out, under pressure when fell 4 out
in rear when badly hampered 14th, soon pulled up
led, 8 lengths clear after 5th, headed before 3 out, weakened after next
in rear when blundered and unseated rider 2nd
held up in rear, struggling 5 out, soon switched left, attempted to run out and crashed through wings of fence and unseated rider
prominent, lost place 3rd, rallied 5 out, soon chasing leaders, every chance 3 out, wandered under pressure next, rallied again last, no extra towards finish
NonRunner
A cracking renewal which features the past two winners and four of the first five in last month’s Peter Marsh Chase here. Wakanda came out on top on that occasion but second Robinsfirth probably needed the run. Impulsive Star recorded a first victory over fences in the Classic Chase at Warwick and there is probably more to come. Last year’s winner Yala Enki was a place behind Ramses De Teillee in the Welsh National but should get much closer on better terms. VIEUX LION ROUGE pulled up at Chepstow but that was a rare poor run from David Pipe’s 10-year-old, who was a very good second in the Becher Chase on his reappearance and won this in 2017 off the same mark. The Two Amigos is developing into a decent stayer but steps up in grade today. Royal Vacation proved his stamina last time at Taunton and is a former Grade 1 winner so isn’t out of this.
Yala Enki (FR) 12-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 6th, led 17th, clear briefly before 5 out, headed 3 out, 3rd and held from 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 20, 5 1/4l behind Elegant Escape (11-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Ballyoptic (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) In touch, mistake 15th, 6th on last bend, well held 5th 3 out, no impression, 6th of 20, 26 1/2l behind Elegant Escape (11-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Royal Vacation (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, chased leaders 16th, went 3rd 3 out, led before last, stayed on strongly, won at Taunton 3m 4f (2) gs in Jan beating The Last Samuri (10-12) by 6l, 7 ran.
Wakanda (IRE) 6-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, challenged after 3 out, ridden after next, led flat, kept on well final 110 yards, won at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Jan beating Robinsfirth (10-10) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Ramses De Teillee (FR) 10-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, lost a few places after 11th, closing when hit 16th, bad mistake 4 out, chased winner 2 out, stayed on, always just held, 2nd of 20, 1 1/4l behind Elegant Escape (11-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Robinsfirth (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) Mid-division, went left and bumped rival 5th, hit 10th, behind and pushed along after 5 out, ridden and headway 2 out, went 2nd and kept on towards far side rail flat, not reach winner, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Wakanda (10-10) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Jan.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 12-1 (11-3) Led, not fluent 16th, mistake and headed 17th, weakened 4 out, soon pulled up, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Red Infantry (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Led, went right 6th, ridden and headed narrowly before 2 out, kept on same pace, gradually weakened flat, 5th of 11, 6 1/4l behind Wakanda (10-10) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Jan.
The Two Amigos 11-8fav (11-12) Led but pressed, narrowly headed 4th, in front again before 7th, bumped next, reached for 3 out, battled on gamely to go clear run-in, won at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan beating Calin Du Brizais (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Ballyarthur (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Towards rear, headway 6th, tracked leaders 4 out, led narrowly before 2 out, mistake last, ridden and headed flat, no extra, 4th of 11, 4 1/4l behind Wakanda (10-10) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Jan.
Carole's Destrier 12-1 (10-6) Chased leaders until 2nd, mid-division, one cheek piece came loose after 4th, headway 12th, 4th and one pace last, 4th of 12, 8 3/4l behind Impulsive Star (10-1) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Jan.
Bishops Road (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Behind, mistake 14th, tailed off when blundered 3 out, pulled up before next, at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Ah Littleluck (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Held up behind leaders, 4th 4 out, went 3rd next, improved into close 3rd when left 2nd 2 out, soon led travelling well, went clear at last, stayed on well run-in, eased inside final furlong, won at Navan 3m Yielding in Jan beating Frankly All Talk (11-12) by 9 1/2l, 7 ran.
Pobbles Bay (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway on outside 5 out, soon tracking leaders, effort 2 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Buckhorn Timothy (12-2) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Chef D'Oeuvre (FR) 7-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, always travelling well, led 3 out, strongly challenged from next, stayed on well, won at Haydock 3m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Back To The Thatch (10-12) by 2 3/4l, 10 ran.
Impulsive Star (IRE) 8-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, challenged 16th, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, led again from last, stayed on well, won at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Jan beating Calett Mad (10-13) by 3 1/4l, 12 ran.
