prominent, led 7th, headed before 9th, led 4 out, driven before last, headed narrowly flat, battled back bravely to lead again close home
prominent, lost place 14th, well behind 4 out
led until 7th, led before 9th, headed 4 out, every chance next, one pace in 3rd 2 out, no extra last
tracked leaders, pecked 9th, not fluent 4 out, awkward landing 3 out, challenged next, led narrowly flat, headed close home
held up in rear, not fluent 13th, headway when hit 16th, lost place 3 out, weakened before next, pulled up before last
took keen hold, held up, headway 5th, tracking leaders 16th, pushed along before 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up on outside, slow and last 4th, behind 11th, tailed off 16th, pulled up after
THISTLECRACK has the potential to be one of the all-time greats. Last year’s leading staying hurdler has taken to fences like a duck to water and jumped superbly, considering his novice status, when powering clear of top-class stablemate Cue Card in the King George last month with Silviniaco Conti a never-nearer third. The latter has never shone around here while course specialist Perfect Candidate has a mountain to climb at the weights. The last two winners of this - Many Clouds and Smad Place - return for another tilt with the former probably the pick having made a successful return to action at Aintree last month. Vezelay’s French form is solid but he’s likely to find t least a couple of these too good and Kylemore Lough has a lot to prove over this trip.
Many Clouds (IRE) 3-1 (11-10) Made all, 2 1/2 lengths ahead last, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Aintree 3m 1f lst (1) gs in Dec beating Le Mercurey (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Silviniaco Conti (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Led 2nd until 9th, chased winner until not fluent 10th, chased leading trio until outpaced 14th, rallied after 2 out, took modest 3rd last strides, almost snatched 2nd, 3rd of 5, 3 1/4l behind Thistlecrack (11-10) at Kempton 3m (1) gd in Dec.
Smad Place (FR) 11-1 (11-12) Led until 2nd, chased leaders, not fluent 11th (water), pushed along before 4 out, ridden before 3 out, soon one pace, plugged on, 7th of 19, 9 3/4l behind Native River (11-1) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Thistlecrack 11-10fav (11-10) Jumped well, led until 2nd, tracked leader, led again 9th, clear before 3 out, stayed on strongly, eased towards finish, impressive, won at Kempton 3m (1) gd in Dec beating Cue Card (11-10) by 3 1/4l, 5 ran.
Vezelay (FR) 50-1 (11-7) In rear, headway before 10th, went 3rd before 4 out, weakened before next, 3rd of 6, 28l behind Cue Card (11-7) at Haydock 3m (1) hvy in Nov.
Kylemore Lough 9-1 (11-10) Soon prominent, chased leader before 2nd, mistake 3 out, led before next, edged left before hitting last, soon headed, no extra and lost 3 places towards finish, 5th of 16, 2 1/2l behind Frodon (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Perfect Candidate (IRE) 18-1 (11-2) Led, headed before 2 out, led again flat, headed post, 2nd of 12, shd behind Theatre Guide (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) gd in Dec.
