not fluent in mid-division, lost place 9th, headway approaching 16th, soon outpaced and ridden, left 4th 2 out, weakened flat
held up in touch, took closer order 17th, ridden and 4th when fell 5 out
led 4th until ridden and headed 4 out, fell last
never in contention, behind when pulled up before 15th
mid-division, headway 12th, weakened 16th
behind mistake 1st, tailed off when pulled up before 4th out
mid-division, headway 6th, hard ridden and weakened 3 out, rallied to go 4th close home
short of room, hampered and unseated rider on 1st bend after start
mid-division, mistake 16th, soon in rear, tailed off, pulled up before 5 out
led 2nd to 4th, prominent until weakened 14th
always prominent, joined leader 3 out, ridden and led 2 out, left clear last
behind 15th, pulled up before 17th
always in rear, pulled up before 13th
led 1st and keen, headed 2nd, prominent until blundered 15th, not recover, pulled up before 5 out
prominent until weakened 4 out
soon ridden along in rear, tailed off, pulled up before 13th
always in rear, tailed off, pulled up before 14th
held up towards rear, mistake 6th, steady headway after 11th, weakened when blundered 3 out
There are many that can be considered in a smashing renewal of this great race, these including Lord Transcend and Cornish Rebel, but we will side with One Knight. The 2003 Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner and last year's Rehearsal Chase winner, One Knight is unbeaten here and the latest reports on him are good so he is very much respected. The Hennessy Gold Cup third, Cornish Rebel, is a class act and, even off topweight, he looks set to go well from a three-pounds higher mark. Lord Transcend is also classy and should be fitter for his seasonal return. Lightly-raced, he also won last season's Peter Marsh Chase and wass fourth in that campaign's Hennessy Gold Cup. Last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup third - and runner-up in this race last year from 2003 from a four pounds lower mark - Sir Rembrandt, hasn't seemed quite the same force this time around, a similar comment applying Therealbandit, although on their best form you would have to consider them. As is the Hennessy Gold Cup fifth, Comply Or Die. Another Martin Pipe runner, Joacci, looked smart last year and is the type that could go well. Top-class staying hurdler Crystal d'Ainay, could yet be well weighted over fences, while HHeroesCollonges has plenty of ability and is another who could be on a good mark. Finally, the Betfred Gold Cup winner, Jack High, has to be respected from a canny operation but last year's runner-up in this race, Strong Resolve, has more on his plate today. This returns us to the selection, which is One Knight.
Cornish Rebel (IRE) 11-2fav (11-11) Held up towards rear, hampered 15th, headway when not much room on inside approaching 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, 3rd of 19, 4 1/2l behind Trabolgan (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Nov.
Sir Rembrandt (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Prominent, reminders 12th, hit 13th, weakened quickly after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Captain Corelli (9-9) at Haydock 3m hcp chs (B) sft, 8 ran.
One Knight (IRE) 9-4fav (11-9) Made all, mistake 9th, clear 5 out, pushed out flat, won at Chepstow 3m 2f lst hcp chs (A) sft in Dec '04 beating L'aventure (10-8) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Comply Or Die (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 13th, blundered 15th, close-up when hit 4 out, soon switched right, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 19, 6l behind Trabolgan (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Nov.
Crystal d'Ainay (FR) 16-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden 2 out, headed approaching last, one pace, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Inglis Drever (11-8) at Newbury 3m hdl Grd 2 (A) gd in Nov.
Shardam (IRE) 6-1jt-fav (11-3) Tracked leaders until weakened 14th, 13th of 18, 46l behind Puntal (11-4) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gf in Apr '04.
Heros Collonges (FR) 18-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance last, weakened before elbow, 6th of 19, 10l behind Garvivonnian (10-4) at Aintree 3m 3f lst hcp chs (A) gs in Nov.
Control Man (IRE) 16-1 (10-2) Mid-division, never a danger, tailed off from 3 out, 13th of 19, 45l behind Attorney General (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (B) gs.
Mckelvey (IRE) Evensfav (11-8) Tracked leaders, led after 9th, clear 5 out, one length up when blundered and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Leading Man (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov chs (B) hvy, 5 ran.
Strong Resolve (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) With leader fell at the 2nd in race won by Garvivonnian (10-4) at Aintree 3m 3f lst hcp chs (A) gs in Nov, 19 ran.
L'Aventure (FR) 11-2 (10-12) Always in touch, challenged 25th, mistake 27th, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 14, 5l behind Spot Thedifference (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (B) gd in Nov.
Philson Run (IRE) 25-1 (10-2) brought down in race won by Garvivonnian (10-4) at Aintree 3m 3f lst hcp chs (A) gs in Nov, 19 ran.
Present Bleu (FR) 100-1 (10-9) In touch until fell at the 9th in race won by Cregg House (10-5) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (B) gs in Apr, 30 ran.
Indalo (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Led, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, weakening when pecked 3 out, 4th of 10, 14l behind Reflected Glory (11-6) at Exeter 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs.
Granit d'Estruval (FR) 25-1 (11-1) In touch, lost place 10th, behind when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Ross Comm (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (C) hvy in Oct, 17 ran.
Native Emperor 11-2 (11-11) Towards rear, chased leaders 14th, kept on same pace from 4 out, 3rd of 10, 11l behind Reflected Glory (11-6) at Exeter 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs.
World Wide Web (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Held up, ridden before 9th, moderate headway from 2 out, never a danger, 5th of 13, 11l behind The Market Man (11-10) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gd in Nov.
Wain Mountain 7-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, every chance 4 out, one pace, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Reflected Glory (11-6) at Exeter 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs.
