held up behind leaders, left 2nd approaching 8th, ridden after 4 out, weakened quickly
tracked leaders, reminders after 3rd, left in lead 11th, ridden and headed 3 out, kept on but no chance with winner
always going well, held up, smooth headway to lead 3 out, soon clear, easily
unseated, led until blundered and unseated rider 11th
prominent until pulled up before 8th and dismounted
If Paul Nicholls held a chance in the opener, he holds a better one here, with Indien Royal getting the call - albeit narrowly - over Sonnant and Alphabetic. The Tony McCoy-ridden selection has, admittedly, had plenty of chances, and has been a beaten favourite in two of his recent runs. Added to that, he has been tried in first-time blinkers and he did not jump as well as he needed to at Newbury last Friday. He'll need to pick up his feet at a track that requires attention in that respect but, if he does, he holds major claims today. Sonnant is only rated three pounds below him on official ratings and his form is very solid for today's contest. He rates as a big danger, as does Alphabetic, from the in-form Nicky Henderson stable. Much as he fell on his chasing debut, he had jumped well to that point, and that was his first run in well over a year. Turning to the other pair and Ice Crystal was rated 115 over hurdles, so is no mug although this is his chasing debut, but Rings Of Power looks held. Once again, then, we return to the selection, which is Indien Royal.
Alphabetic 5-2fav Led, ridden approaching 3 out, headed and fell 2 out in race won by East Lawyer at Chepstow 2m 3f beg chs (E) gs in Feb, 5 ran.
Ice Crystal 8-1 Held up, headway after 5th, led approaching 4 out until approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 18, 13l behind Sungates at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gs in Feb.
Indien Royal (FR) 9-2 Held up in touch, ridden 8th, blundered 9th, effort 4 out, ridden and no impression from next, 4th of 8, 17l behind Tanikos at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs.
Rings Of Power (IRE) 50-1 Held up, hit 6th, ridden 13th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, 44l behind Were In Touch at Taunton 3m beg chs (D) gs in Feb.
Sonnant (FR) 5-1 Tracked leading pair, led 4 out, headed 2 out, soon no chance with winner, finished tired, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Calvic at Plumpton 3m 2f nov chs (D) sft in Feb.
