tracking leader when blundered and unseated rider 2nd
held up 4th, left in 3rd place at 2nd, closer at 10th, went well held 2nd before 3 out until ridden and hit 2 out, no extra in 3rd
held up 3rd, left tracking winner 2nd, closer 10th, pushed along and lost 2nd before 3 out, went 2nd again 2 out, no chance with winner
raced keenly, made all, left in clear lead 2nd, reduced lead 10th, hit 11th, went clear again before 2 out, blundered badly last, kept on strongly, unchallenged
Just the four go to post with Imperial Aura and Riders Onthe Storm conceding 6lb to the other pair. The former has won his last three and has entries in both the Ryanair and the Gold Cup at Cheltenham while the latter won the Ascot Chase around this time last year. Master Tommytucker can be tough to get past when not let down his jumping but we’ll take CLONDAW CASTLE to spring something of a surprise as he’s on a steep upward curve and would have finished closer in the Peterborough Chase at Cheltenham last month had he not been badly hampered by a faller.
Imperial Aura (IRE) 13-8fav (11-5) Jumped well, tracked leader, challenged 7th, led 9th, asserting before 2 out, stayed on well, won at Ascot 2m 5f (1) sft in Nov beating Itchy Feet (11-4) by 5l, 4 ran.
Riders Onthe Storm (IRE) 13-2 (11-6) Led 2nd, headed 4th, mistake 4 out, weakened 3 out, well behind in last when jumped badly right 2 out, left 3rd last, 3rd of 4, dist behind Put The Kettle On (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Nov.
Clondaw Castle (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up, slow 12th, hampered 3 out, headway before 2 out, went 3rd approaching last, no extra final 75 yards, 3rd of 8, 7 1/4l behind Mister Fisher (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
Master Tommytucker 15-2 (11-12) Led until 2nd, led after 3rd, headed 4th, led after 7th, headed 10th, 3 1/2 lengths 4th when pecked 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 17, dist behind Chatham Street Lad (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
