led until headed 8th, chased leader to after 4 out, weakened next
pecked 1st, held up, blundered 8tg, struggling 4 out
chased leader, led 8th, narrowly headed 3 out, driven in 3rd approaching 2 out, weakened soon after, lost 3rd run-in
chased leaders in 3rd, ridden outpaced after 4 out, stayed on again approaching last
held up in rear, ridden, no chance when stumbled on bend after 4 out
held up, ridden, blundered 8th soon struggling
close up and always travelling well, headway 10th, went 3rd 4 out, led 3 out, ridden, good jump last, drew clear run-in
tracked leaders in 4th, went 2nd after 4 out, upsides and every chance 3 out, chased winner after, driven between last 2, no impression
No Kauto Star now, but this is still a tremendous contest with Voy Por Ustedes, Twist Magic, Monet's Garden and Ashley Brook the leading players and Voy Por Estedes can enhance his repuation with another success. Alan King has got a run into the champion chaser when he just failed to give lumps of weight to Kalca Mome at Cheltenham. Soft ground suits this speedster and off level weights he can show his class and take his first Tingle Creek. Paul Nicholls tries to make it a hat-trick in the race, this time with Twist Magic. He was a very easy Aintree winner in Grade 1 company in the spring and came back with a similarly facile success at Kempton last month. He has won in soft ground, so should not be inconvenienced by it, though his trainer has gone on record saying that he is best on a sound surface, so there is a nagging doubt there for a top race like this. Monet's Garden is interesting dropped back to two miles for the first time since the Arkle of 2006. He handles any ground and the fact that there is cut and a stiff uphill finish should help to make this more of a stamina test and could well suit him. Perhaps the biggest concern for Ashley Brook's supporters is his jumping. He has been on the floor on his last two starts but he ran Kauto Star to within two lengths in this two seasons ago, clearly has plenty of ability, and acts on any ground, so a clear round would see him go very close again. A win for any of the others would have to be considered a shock in such a big race and we'll take the champion chaser, Voy Por Ustedes to confirm he is of the highest class by winning this Grade 1 contest.
Ashley Brook (IRE) 11-2 (10-8) Led until fell 4 out in race won by Monet's Garden (10-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Oct, 4 ran.
Demi Beau 9-1 (11-5) Chased leaders until 7th, soon lost place, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Hoo La Baloo (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Nov.
Hoo La Baloo (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, led 3 out, ridden last, pushed out flat, won at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Nov beating Magic Sky (11-0) by 2l, 10 ran.
Monet's Garden (IRE) 9-4 (10-10) Chased leader, 1 length down when left in lead 4 out, ridden approaching last, ridden out, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Oct beating Kauto Star (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
Oneway (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Held up and keen, weakened approaching 3 out, last of 6, well behind Monet's Garden (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
River City (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Held up in 4th, went 3rd after 4th, closed before 7th, stumbled 4 out, pecked 2 out, soon ridden and beaten, 4th of 5, 36l behind Kalca Mome (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) sft in Nov.
Twist Magic (FR) 2-11fav (11-9) Tracked leading pair, led 3 out, in command when hit next, soon pushed clear, won at Kempton 2m Grad Ch (2) gd in Nov beating Mister Quasimodo (11-2) by 6l, 4 ran.
Voy Por Ustedes (FR) 8-11fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3rd, led 6th, inclined to hang right after, 4 lengths clear 2 out, ridden after last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 5, nk behind Kalca Mome (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) sft in Nov.
