towards rear, slight mistake 2nd, jumped left from 4 out, mistake 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
prominent, jumped well 4th, disputing lead after 5th, led 6th, still every chance 4 out, headed 3 out, stayed on
held up in rear, headway 4 out, ridden approaching last, not pace of leaders
led early, joined after 5th, lost position before 4 out where pulled up
held up in rear, headway over 4 out, every chance 3 out, shaken up 2 out, led last, ridden close home
in touch, slight mistake 3rd, still going well 3 out, jumped into lead 2 out, headed last, rallied run-in but held close home
held up, pecked on landing 6th, weakened after 4 out, not involved
NonRunner
NonRunner
This looks wide open but Sametegal has already placed in a couple of these veteran chases this season and might appreciate the drop in distance. The handicapper has taken a real chance with Theinval by dropping him a pound since his fifth in the Grand Annual in March while Garde La Victoire wasn’t beaten far when third on his reappearance at Hereford. Baby King has rarely raced beyond 2m but Drumconnor Lad and Sir Ivan aren’t out of this and neither is TWO TAFFS, who was behind Theinval at Cheltenham last season but seems to run well fresh and was a good second off this mark at Warwick in February.
Two Taffs (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, driven before 2 out, weakened before last, 11th of 18, 13 1/2l behind Chosen Mate (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Garde La Victoire (FR) 10-3 (12-0) Held up towards rear, headway when jumped left 3 out, ridden before 2 out, strong run from last but could not reach leaders, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Town Parks (11-2) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Theinval (FR) 50-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, mistake 3 out, headway last, stayed on flat, never nearer, 5th of 18, 8 1/4l behind Chosen Mate (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Princeton Royale (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Led until 4th, led 8th, headed next, lost 2nd 12th, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 5, 18l behind Master Burbidge (10-0) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Theo (IRE) 22-1 (11-11) Chased leaders on inside, weakened on long run before 2 out, soon pulled up, at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Sir Ivan 18-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, hit 4th, led before 2 out, headed flat, soon held in 3rd, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 14, 5l behind Jacamar (10-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Baby King (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) In rear, pushed along and behind 5th, headway 3 out, 10 lengths 2nd when bad mistake 2 out, well beaten after, 2nd of 5, 12l behind Hollywoodien (11-6) at Hereford 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Drumconnor Lad (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Behind, mistake 5th and 6th, struggling from 7th, never dangerous, 6th of 8, 17 1/2l behind First Flow (11-1) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Sametegal (FR) 7-2fav (11-5) Tracked leader, travelling well and every chance 2 out, made strong challenge last, stumbled last and no extra run-in, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Step Back (11-6) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
