held up in touch, blundered 13th, hit 5 out, challenged going well from 4 out, led briefly approaching last, shaken up to regain lead soon after last, pushed out, readily
held up towards rear, hampered 15th, headway when not much room on inside approaching 4 out, stayed on from 2 out
mid-division, headway 13th, blundered 15th, close-up when hit 4 out, soon switched right, stayed on same pace from 2 out
prominent, jumped left 6th and 7th, left 5 out until approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out, eased once beaten, tailed off
mid-division, driven 14th, hampered 16th, soon struggling, tailed off
held up in touch, led going well approaching 3 out, headed narrowly approaching last, soon regained lead, headed flat, stayed on
held up towards rear, not fluent 9th, 10th or 12th, struggling from 14th, behind when pulled up before 16th
held up towards rear, struggling when blundered 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led to 5 out, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off
held up and behind, hampered 16th, jumped left 3 out, headway after 2 out, stayed on, never near to challenge
held up in touch, not fluent 13th or 5 out, driven after 3 out, one pace from 2 out
mid-division, reminders after 5th and 11th, behind from 14th, tailed off when pulled up after 16th
held up and behind, headway on outside approaching 3 out, ridden 2 out, no further progress
held up towards rear, blundered 2nd, mistake 14th, struggling 5 out, no chance when mistake 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders until fell 16th
chased leader until 13th, mistake 14th, 6th and struggling when blundered and unseated rider 15th
held up, hit 12th, headway on outside approaching 5 out, weakened after 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased leaders, not fluent 12th and reminders, mistake 14th, weakened 5 out, tailed off
held up and behind, blundered 5 out, headway when mistake 3 out, stayed on, nearest finish
A good quality renewal of this valuable contest can go to Red Devil Robert, who gets the nod over his stablemate Cornish Rebel and Comply Or Die, while old rivals Trabolgan and French raider L'ami cannot confidently be ruled out of making bold bids. The last named has been sharpened up for this with a couple outings at Auteuil and, as he stays well, he looks a fair proposition for each-way backers to consider at likely odds. He is closely matched with the likes of Cornish Rebel and Comply Or Die on last season's Sun Alliance Chase form and has a feasible chance at the weights. Trabolgan, on the other hand, faces no easy task from top weight and, as his race fitness has to be taken on trust, he looks opposable on balance. Kandjar D'Allier is another that is worth a mention, as he was far from disgraced when finishing third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. That outing will have brought his fitness levels up to scratch and he could be a lively outsider on ground that should be ideal for him. However, Red Devil Robert is on a very handy mark and, as a sure-footed jumper, he is too progressive to ignore at this stage of his career. The fact that Red Devil Robert is unproven over the distance only helps to make his price and the seven-year-old is fancied to emerge as the top contender from his in-form.
Trabolgan (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, mistake 10th, challenged and blundered 2 out, led before last, driven out, won at Cheltenham 3m nov chs Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar beating Comply Or Die (11-4) by 3l, 9 ran.
Cornish Rebel (IRE) 9-2 (10-7) Behind, hit 9th, headway 19th, challenging when not much room 2 out, led flat, faltered and headed post, 2nd of 20, shd behind Joes Edge (9-11) at Ayr 4m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Apr.
Comply Or Die (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Behind, some headway before 3 out, no impression next, 6th of 19, 17l behind Jack High (10-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Apr.
Ballycassidy (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Not fluent 1st, tracked leaders, ridden 3 out kept on same pace from next, no impression, 3rd of 16, 13l behind Tango Royal (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f lst hcp chs (A) gd in Jul.
Joes Edge (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) In rear, lost touch 14th, well behind when blundered and unseated rider 5 out in race won by Ollie Magern (11-5) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (A) sft in Oct, 8 ran.
L'ami (FR) (10-8) Well behind until good headway from 2 out, 3rd of 11, 9l behind Golden Flight (10-8) at Auteuil 3m 3f chs Grd 1.
Iris Bleu (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Hit 1st, held up in mid-division headway on bit 4 out, challenged 2 out, ridden and led approaching last, ran on gamely flat, won at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (A) gd beating Red Devil Robert (11-2) by 3 1/2l, 12 ran.
Colourful Life (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) In touch, lost place 10th, under pressure when blundered and unseated rider at the 11th in race won by Ollie Magern (11-5) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (A) sft in Oct, 8 ran.
Lord of Illusion (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Made most to 4 out, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Water King (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (E) gs, 24 ran.
Run For Paddy 6-1 (11-7) Behind, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, led flat, driven out, won at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Oct beating Backbeat (11-12) by 2l, 10 ran.
Red Devil Robert (IRE) 2-1fav (11-2) In touch, hampered 8th, headway approaching 4 out, led on bit 2 out, ridden and headed last, ran on flat, not pace of winner, 2nd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Iris Bleu (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (A) gd.
Tribal Venture (FR) 16-1 (10-0) Jumped big 1st, rider lost irons and pulled up at the 3rd in race won by Innox (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs, 16 ran.
Redemption 12-1 (10-8) Held up, not fluent 8th, steady headway from 11th, challenged 3 out, about 1 length 2nd and travelling well when blundered and fell 2 out in race won by Our Vic (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs, 18 ran.
Kandjar d'Allier (FR) 14-1 (10-7) Held up, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, chased winner 2 out, driven and no impression last, lost 2nd final 100 yards, 3rd of 18, 4l behind Our Vic (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs.
Ross Comm 11-1 (10-13) Always prominent, led 10th, drew clear from 3 out, easily, won at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (C) hvy in Oct beating Shannon's Pride (9-12) by 23l, 17 ran.
King Harald (IRE) 6-1 (10-5) Led until approaching 3 out, still close 2nd when blundered badly last, lost any chance, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 16, 11l behind Innox (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs.
Distant Thunder (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Held up in mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up 2 out in race won by Iris Bleu (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (A) gd, 12 ran.
St Matthew (USA) 25-1 (11-4) Raced wide, chased clear leader, led after 9th, ridden 3 out, hit last, all out, won at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (B) gs beating My Way de Solzen (11-9) by a nk, 14 ran.
All In The Stars (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up behind, steady headway to track leaders 15th, challenged 4 out, led after 3 out, stayed on strongly, won at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs beating Classic Native (11-8) by 8l, 11 ran.
