soon raced in moderate 3rd, progress to chase leader approaching 3 out, soon closed, travelling smoothly from before straight, led before last, stayed on well to assert run-in, easily
raced in moderate 6th early, went moderate 4th at 6th and chased front pair 3 out, 4th and no impression from before last where left 3rd, kept on without troubling winner into 2nd near line
soon led and clear, reduced lead 3 out, headed and dropped to 3rd before last where left 2nd, no extra and kept on same pace run-in, dropped to 3rd near line
soon raced in moderate 4th, mistake 5th and soon lost place, ridden 3 out, moderate 5th and no impression 2 out, eased straight, tailed off
led early, soon chased clear leader, weakened 3 out, tailed off
in rear, behind approaching 8th, went moderate 5th approaching last and kept on same pace
soon raced in moderate 5th, moderate 4th 2 out, ridden and attempting to get to winner in 2nd when bad mistake last and almost unseated rider, no extra in 4th after
Yorkhill is superbly talented but not the easiest of rides and the JLT winner was trying 3m for the first time when tailed off in the Grade 1 Christmas Chase here. He'll be able to run with the choke out over this trip but that should suit stable companion MIN (NAP). He lost his unbeaten record over fences in the stewards' room after impeding Simply Ned on the run-in in a Grade 1 here over Christmas but a stronger pace will see him in better light and he looked to have a little bit in hand that day. Ordinary World kept tabs with the selection until the last but Henry De Bromhead has a much better option with Special Tiara. The Queen Mother Champion Chase winner was still going strongly when falling in the Desert Orchid at Kempton and it would be no shock to see him bounce back here.
Min (FR) 2-7fav (11-12) Disputed lead early, led 2nd, strongly pressed and edged left run-in and hampered rival, all out, demoted to 2nd, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) Yielding in Dec beating Simply Ned (11-12) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Simply Ned (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up, chased leaders from halfway, improved to challenge in 2nd and hampered twice run-in, kept on well, promoted to 1st, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Ordinary World (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) Yielding in Dec.
Special Tiara 3-1 (11-6) Sometimes jumped slightly left, led and set decent pace, clear 7th, travelling well when fell 8th, at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Yorkhill (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Held up early, soon tracked leaders and on terms approaching 5th, soon led, jumped big 6th, mistake 5 out and headed, lost place from before straight,, 8th of 12, dist behind Road To Respect (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Alisier D'Irlande (FR) 25-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, 3rd after 4th, mistake at 7th and dropped to 4th, jumped left at 8th, weakened before 4 out, left moderate 3rd 2 out, no extra, 3rd of 5, dist behind Un De Sceaux (11-12) at Cork 2m 1f (1) hvy in Dec.
Ballycasey (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) 5th of 16, 23 1/4l behind Pallasator (12-0) at Punchestown 1m 6f Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Ordinary World (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, effort from before straight, 3rd before last, soon no extra, one pace, 3rd of 6, at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) Yielding in Dec.
