mid-division, lost place 3 out, weakened from next
mid-division, tracked leaders 7th, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden after next, lost place last, kept on same pace, no impression with front pair flat
held up in last pair, reminders and under pressure after 11th, outpaced after 3 out, ridden after next, kept on under pressure before last, no impression in 4th flat
tracked leaders, driven before 2 out, not pace to get on terms, weakened after last
tracked leaders, dropped to mid-division after 6th, outpaced 3 out, headway under pressure next, soon ridden, went 2nd last, kept on flat, not reach winner
kept wide early, raced keenly after 3rd, led before 6th, travelled well and made rest, clear after 7th, reached for 12th, ridden and stayed on well under pressure final 100 yards
led to before 6th, chased winner, ridden and lost place after 3 out, weakened from next
held up in last pair, headway under pressure 3 out, not pace to reach leaders, weakened after next
Un De Sceaux was second in last year’s Champion Chase having won the Arkle the year before. He won a Grade 2 over 2m5f at Auteuil last May so stays this longer trip and won the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December before beating UXIZANDRE by five lengths in the Clarence House here in January. But the runner-up ran a cracker that day considering he’d been off the course since winning this in 2015. That outing is sure to have blown away the cobwebs and Alan King’s gelding can have his revenge back over his best trip. Empire Of Dirt won a handicap over course and distance at the meeting last year and ran a blinder behind Sizing John in the Irish Gold Cup last month. He’s worthy of a place in the line-up but Josses Hill always seems to come up short at the highest level and that will probably be the case again today. Stablemate Vaniteux is also worth opposing as he hasn’t won here in five previous visits and at least a couple of these should be too good for Sub Lieutenant.
Alary (FR) 2-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, left in lead 13th, joined 4 out, already headed and one length down when fell 3 out, at Exeter 3m (2) sft in Feb.
Aso (FR) 11-1 (11-10) Held up in last pair, headway on outside 3 out, chased leaders hanging right approaching 2 out, stayed on well run-in, almost snatched 3rd, 4th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Pilgrims Bay (10-2) at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Empire Of Dirt (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) In rear, 5th at 9th, closed up travelling smoothly 2 out, pushed along on inner approaching last, not much room on rail closing stages, kept on well without getting to winner, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Sizing John (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Josses Hill (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Took keen hold early, not fluent 1st, tracked leading pair until approaching 7th until next, chased leaders, 4th when hit 14th, ridden and no impression before 3 out, weakened from next, last of 5, 6 3/4l behind Thistlecrack (11-10) at Kempton 3m (1) gd in Dec.
Sub Lieutenant (IRE) 11-10fav (11-8) Chased leader in 2nd, disputed from 4 out, led after 3 out, pressed briefly 2 out, soon ridden and 2-length advantage, strongly pressed passing last, headed run-in and no extra closing stages, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Sizing John (11-8) at Thurles 2m 4f (1) Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Un De Sceaux (FR) 1-2fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, 2nd from 7th, led 9th, driven clear flat, won at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Jan beating Uxizandre (11-7) by 5l, 7 ran.
Uxizandre (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, jumped left 3rd, steadied after next, mistake 7th, headway after 3 out, went 2nd last, no impression on winner flat, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Un De Sceaux (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Jan.
Vaniteux (FR) 5-4fav (11-5) Tracked leading pair, hit 8th, 2nd 3 out, challenged next, led approaching last, edged right and ridden clear run-in, won at Kempton 2m 4f lst (1) gs in Jan beating Vibrato Valtat (11-6) by 2 1/4l, 4 ran.
