mostly jumped well, made all and clear most of way, hit 3rd and 14th, ridden before 2 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged
raced on inside, tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd 12th, hit 2 out, never able to challenge
chased winner who soon went clear, lost 2nd and dropped to 4th place 12th, weakened 4 out
held up and last, headway on outside 2 out, went 3rd last, kept on pressing for 3rd run-in, never able to challenge
jumped left at times, raced wide and held up in 4th, closer in 3rd at 12th, well held when went left final 3, weakened run-in
held up in 5th, bit closer in 4th 4 out, weakened last
NonRunner
2018 Gold Cup winner, NATIVE RIVER, holds his form extremely well and confirmed his wellbeing for the current season with an effortless success over Black Corton in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree in December. Renowned for his love of testing conditions, he's perfectly capable on better ground too and can land a second successive victory in this contest. His victim in his epic Gold Cup win, Might Bite, is still engaged in a seemingly desperate struggle for form and it remains difficult to be positive about his chances at present. Hopefully he will discover some of his former spark. The remainder have plenty to find as they are all rated around 20lb and more behind the selection and Secret Investor is tentatively suggested as best of the rest.
Native River (IRE) 5-6fav (11-0) Prominent, led 3rd, left well clear next, even further clear 12th, not fluent 3 out, unchallenged, won at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Dec beating Black Corton (11-6) by 33l, 4 ran.
Secret Investor 8-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, mistake 4 out, every chance 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 13, dist behind Warthog (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Activial (FR) 7-1 (11-8) Led to 11th, in touch when blundered badly and unseated rider 12th, at Haydock 2m 6f (2) gs in Nov.
A Toi Phil (FR) 5-2 (11-6) Settled behind leaders in 3rd, improved to dispute after 4 out, led next, asserted before 2 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on well, slightly reduced advantage close home, won at Listowel 2m 4f Yielding in Sep beating The West's Awake (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Might Bite (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Led, headed after 4th, stayed prominent, weakened after 2 out, pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Valdez 6-1 (11-7) Held up, not much room 8th, not fluent 12th, outpaced when left 4th and hampered 3 out, no impression, 4th of 5, 16 3/4l behind Gala Ball (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
The Two Amigos 8-1 (10-8) Led after 1st, headed after 7th, led after 12th, headed 3 out, weakened final 150 yards, 5th of 17, 10 1/4l behind Potters Corner (10-11) at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) hvy in Dec.
