led and soon clear, reduced lead briefly before 4th, joined 3 out, ridden and headed before next, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
mistakes held up off the pace in last trio, hit 8th and next, beaten when mistake 4 out, continued tailed off
raced keenly, held up in last, slightly hampered 1st, rapid headway to chase leader 3rd, closer briefly next, challenged on inside 3 out, led before next, soon clear, stayed on strongly
held up off the pace in last trio, never involved
raced keenly, chased clear leader until 3rd, chased leaders, pushed along disputing moderate 4th 4 out, weakened
chased leading pair on inside, went left 9th, pushed along and went left again 2 out, stayed on same pace, never any chance with leading duo
chased leaders, went right and slightly hampered 1st, lost place and struggling in rear 6th, rallied disputing moderate 4th 4 out
Altior has won the last three runnings of this and beat Sceau Royal more than two lengths two years ago. But the 11-year-old has managed just one outing this season and finished in a distressed state in that. He faces a high-quality line-up today and may no longer be the force of old. Sceau Royal’s last win in a Grade 1 came more than three years ago and he was only fifth, behind Greaneteen, in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham won by PUT THE KETTLE ON. Henry De Bromhead’s tough mare has winning form on this quicker surface and she should take all the beating again. Nuts Well has made giant strides this season but is unlikely to have the pace for this.
Altior (IRE) Evensfav (11-6) 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, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Nube Negra (11-0) at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Dolos (FR) 15-2 (11-0) Led, headed 2nd, mistake 9th, weakened approaching 2 out, last of 6, 27 1/4l behind Sceau Royal (11-0) at Newbury 2m (1) gs in Feb.
Greaneteen (FR) 50-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, not fluent 8th, headway on outside approaching 3 out, close 3rd 2 out, held in 4th and carried right flat, kept on, 4th of 9, 2l behind Put The Kettle On (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Nuts Well 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division, in touch 10th, trying to challenge when squeezed out after 3 out, switched right before next, went 2nd approaching last, no impression on winner, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 11l behind Fakir D'Oudairies (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gs in Apr.
Ornua (IRE) 11-4fav (11-10) Soon led, headed before 3rd, 2nd halfway, improved to lead entering straight, ridden approaching 2 out where mistake, soon pressed, 2-length advantage after last, kept on, all out close home, won at Wexford 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr beating Fine Theatre (10-5) by nk, 11 ran.
Sceau Royal (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Mid-division on inside, headway 6th, chased leaders on inside when badly hampered and lost ground after 3 out, went 5th and kept on from last, no impression, 5th of 9, 3 3/4l behind Put The Kettle On (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Put The Kettle On (IRE) 17-2 (11-3) Led until 1st, led 2nd until 3rd, led 8th, headed after next, led and reached through 3 out, headed after 2 out, led again final 50 yards, stayed on gamely, won at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar beating Nube Negra (11-10) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
