patiently ridden and settled well in rear, steady headway from 9th, tracked leading pair from 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, kept on well run -in
held up in rear, mistake and lost touch 8th
chased leaders, ridden and blundered 7th, soon well behind
not fluent, always behind, struggling from 9th
close up, driven along to hold position from 9th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, led before 2 out, headed soon after 2 out, weakened before last
tracked leader, losing place when pecked 3 out, kept on run-in
held up in touch, hit 5th, ridden and headway before 4 out, challenged 2 out, chased winner before last, stayed on same pace run-in
led, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened before last
keen, held up mid-division, promising headway on inside when not fluent 4 out, blundered and not recover next
It is hard to get away from Well Chief in this marvellous race, and he is taken to score, with possibly Thisthatandtother proving to be his biggest danger. The presence of Martin Pipe's Queen Mother Champion Chase hope has frightened off a lot of would-be opponents in this race and, as things stand, only half of the field will be racing from their proper mark. With talent and courage in abundance, Well Chief, who won last season's Arkle Chase, ran a blinder to be third behind Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop in the Tingle Creek Chase before falling when going really well in Wetherby's Castleford Chase last time out. He has been given time to get over those exertions and looks the one to beat today. Not that it will be a cakewalk for we have those hardy perennials Cenkos, Kadarann, Flagship Uberalles, Armaturk, Seebald and Turgeonev in the field, along with Paul Nicholls-trained Paddy Power and Tripleprint Gold Cup runner-up Thisthatandtother, who gets a handy 20 pounds from Well Chief. However, the class act, one who has youth on his side, is Well Chief, and he looks the one to beat in this valuable affair.
