chased leaders, pushed along intermittently from 4th, disputing 2nd after next, driven after 3 out, 3rd and beaten 2 out, went 2nd before last, no impression on winner
led 1st, not fluent and headed 4th, went left and struggling 6th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
led until 1st, chased leaders, not fluent and lost place 5th, no impression from next, mistake 3 out
chased leader from 1st, led 4th, not fluent 4 out mistake 2 out, soon headed, 3rd and held last
held up, closed going strongly 4th, disputing 2nd from next, challenged still going well 2 out, soon led, clear when jumped right and not fluent last, eased towards finish
held up, hind legs sprawled on landing 3rd, fell 5th
Altior, the former 2m champion, won this in 2018 but only managed one run last season, beating SCEAU ROYAL just over the three lengths in the Game Spirit at Newbury in February. The latter is now 6lb better off and is race-fit having been in very good form over hurdles this term. If he translates those efforts back to fences, he could upset the short-priced favourite. Duc Des Genievres was more like his old self when only caught close home by Put The Kettle On in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham on his first run for Paul Nicholls. Rouge Vif was far from disgraced in the Tingle Creek competing against Politilogue off level weights and he comfortably beat Nube Negra at Warwick at the start of the year. Global Citizen has a lot to prove after a lifeless run at Exeter.
Altior (IRE) 1-3fav (11-6) Bit keen, held up tracking leaders, left tracking leading pair 3rd, travelling well 3 out, upsides last, ridden to lead run-in, soon comfortably clear, won at Newbury 2m (1) gd in Feb beating Sceau Royal (11-6) by 3 1/4l, 6 ran.
Global Citizen (IRE) 15-2 (11-5) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 5th, lost place 7th, well beaten before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Rouge Vif (FR) 3-1 (11-7) Sat outside leader until losing second after jumping 3 out (usual 4 out), rallied to challenge for second 2 out, not quicken but stayed on same pace, 3rd of 5, 8 3/4l behind Politologue (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Duc Des Genievres (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Raced freely, prominent, led 4th, clear 8th until before 4 out where mistake, clear again 3 out, still 4 lengths ahead 2 out, hung right flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1 1/4l behind Put The Kettle On (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Nov.
Nube Negra (SPA) 5-4fav (11-0) Chased leaders on inside, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden approaching next, no impression on winner last, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Rouge Vif (11-0) at Warwick 2m (1) gs in Feb.
Sceau Royal (FR) 10-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear on inside, closed 3rd, close up bypassing omitted last, ridden flat, held final 100 yards, kept on, 4th of 10, 3 1/4l behind Song For Someone (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Dec.
