raced keenly, chased leaders, headway to challenge approaching 3 out, ridden next, no extra before last
jumped left on occasions, led 2nd, headed 2 out, every chance when not fluent last, kept on well flat
led, headed 2nd, mistake 9th, weakened approaching 2 out
in touch on outer, pushed along after 8th, not fluent 4 out, beaten when mistake last
held up in touch, ridden before 3 out, no extra from next
raced in touch, smooth headway to go second approaching 4 out, led 2 out, ridden flat, ran on well
Last year’s runner-up Sceau Royal fell when reverting to fences at Kempton over Christmas. Paul Nicholls saddles half the six-strong field with Tingle Creek runner-up Greaneteen probably the pick of his trio ahead of Dolos and Magic Saint, even though he has to concede weight all round. Champ hasn’t run over 2m since second in a bumper in 2017. He needed all of 3m to win the RSA last March and, after a break, this is surely just a stepping stone to a tilt at next month’s Gold Cup. FANION D’ESTRUVAL hasn’t won this season but was arguably travelling best when falling three out in the Peterborough Chase in December. He was far from disgraced in the Grade 1 Clarence House last time and could be the value in this.
Greaneteen (FR) 5-2 (11-7) Close up in third until going second after 3 out (usual 4 out), travelled well to press leader before 2 out, chased winner but awkward last, one pace, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Politologue (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Champ (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Not always fluent, held up towards rear, closed 12th, slow next (water), effort before 3 out, 3rd and outpaced home turn, pecked 2 out, 10 lengths off front pair last, stayed on well final 150 yards, led towards finish, won at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar beating Minella Indo (11-4) by 1l, 10 ran.
Dolos (FR) 3-1fav (11-12) Held up in 5th, closer tracking leaders at 4th, 2nd on outside 3 out, challenged and not fluent next, soon ridden, 1/2 length down last, driven and stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Moonlighter (10-12) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Fanion D'estruval (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Mid-division, lost place and not fluent 6th, closed from 9th, held in 4th 2 out, kept on flat, 4th of 8, 8 3/4l behind First Flow (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Magic Saint (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, closed when not fluent 4 out, hit 3 out and left 2nd, close up 2 out, 4th and beaten last, no extra flat, 4th of 9, 16 1/4l behind Sky Pirate (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Sceau Royal (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Held up, hind legs sprawled on landing 3rd, fell 5th, at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Dec.
