tracked leaders, niggled along after 8th, left 2nd 4 out, soon ridden, not fluent 2 out and last, kept on flat, held towards finish
held up in rear, blundered 10th, left 3rd 4 out, no impression
chased leader, 1 length down when left in lead 4 out, ridden approaching last, ridden out
led until fell 4 out
Monet's Garden can take this prize from Kauto Star and Exotic Dancer. Monet's Garden has gone well when fresh in the past and over a trip that suits this afternoon, the bold jumping grey could be worth siding with at the likely odds. Kauto Star has to be respected as the champion chaser of the 2006/7 season. Paul Nicholls has been surprisingly downbeat in recent days about the seven-year-old and with the Ditcheat handler indicating that his charge might be better for the run, his task of giving weight is much more difficult than it first appears. Jonjo O'Neill's yard are in great form so Exotic Dancer cannot be discounted. He won over 3m1f at the track last season but has run entirely creditably over shorter. Ashley Brook should run well at big odds. His better races have been over shorter but Kevin Bishop's charge could well prosper if the principals show any signs of ringrust. Le Volfoni was beaten when unseating rider at the last at Chepstow. He wasn't good enough to win that race and it is difficult to make a realistic case for him here. The National Hunt season is back in full flow and Monet's Garden can take this valuable pot.
Kauto Star (FR) 5-4fav (11-10) Held up in mid-division on inside, steady headway from 17th, chased leaders on outside 3 out, quickened to lead 2 out, soon in command, clear when hit last, driven out, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar beating Exotic Dan.
Exotic Dancer (FR) 6-4fav (11-12) In touch, blundered 3rd, headway 11th, went 2nd approaching 4 out, led 2 out, drew clear approaching last, eased towards finish, won at Aintree 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr beating My Will (11-8) by 13l, 5 ran.
Monet's Garden (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, hit 5th, led approaching 3 out, stayed on well, won at Aintree 2m 4f chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr beating Taranis (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Ashley Brook (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Led 2nd to 3 out, stayed chasing leader until 2 out, rallied and staying on about 1 length 3rd when fell last fell at the last in race won by Voy Por Ustedes (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar, 10 ran.
Le Volfoni (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Mid-divison, some headway until weakened 2 out, mistake and unseated rider at the last in race won by Eden Linty (10-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd, 17 ran.
