chased leading pair, pushed along on long run before 2 out, soon ridden, went 2nd approaching the last, ridden and kept on same pace run-in
led, set good pace and clear after 2nd, hit 3rd, hit next and reduced lead, joined and hit 3 out, mistake 2 out, headed soon after, no impression when lost 2nd approaching the last, weakened run-in
held up in last pair, headway on outside chasing leaders 5th, 2nd 3 out, closed on outside before next, led soon after 2 out, 3 lengths ahead when mistake and rider lost iron last, stayed on well run-in
chased leader who went clear after 2nd, lost 2nd briefly closed 4th, jumped slowly and lost 2nd 3rd, weakened before 3 out
held up in last pair, good headway on inside tracking leader 5th until 3 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out
No four-year-old has won this since the turn of the century so the unbeaten Sussex Ranger probably faces a stiff task if running here instead of Chepstow, though was impressive over course and distance last time. Western Ryder hasn’t looked back since unseating Richard Johnson at Stratford in November. He easily holds Summerville Boy on Cheltenham form while Kalashnikov has impressed at Wetherby and Doncaster and deserves the chance to help put Amy Murphy on the map. MONT DES AVALOIRS (NAP) is bidding to give Paul Nicholls a fifth win in this Grade 1 but a first since 2008. He would have been unbeaten but for a last-flight fall at Wincanton when clear of a subsequent Grade 2 winner and beat easy Exeter winner The Russian Doyen in a bumper at Chepstow in October.
Kalashnikov (IRE) 4-7fav (11-4) Tracked leader until after 4th, slightly hampered when left 2nd before 4 out, led 3 out, quickened clear flat, stayed on strongly, won at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gs in Dec beating Irish Prophecy (11-4) by 10l, 8 ran.
Mont Des Avaloirs (FR) 5-4fav (10-12) Jumped slightly left at times, led until after 2 out, driven to lead again last, stayed on, in command final 120 yards, won at Aintree 2m 1f (3) hvy in Dec beating Midnight Shadow (11-4) by 3l, 3 ran.
Summerville Boy (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Held up in rear, keen early off very slow pace, headway after 2 out, ridden and not quicken before not fluent last, went 3rd and kept on flat, no impression, 3rd of 8, 5 3/4l behind Western Ryder (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (3) sft in Dec.
The Russian Doyen (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, pushed along briefly before 2nd, led 3 out, clear flat, stayed on, won at Exeter 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec beating Run To Milan (10-12) by 3 1/4l, 14 ran.
Western Ryder (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders on inside, closed 2 out, led last, edged right flat, stayed on strongly to assert final 100 yards, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f (3) sft in Dec beating Lalor (10-12) by 2l, 8 ran.
Sussex Ranger (USA) 9-2 (11-5) Made most, hit 2 out, ridden and ran on, won at Sandown 2m (2) gs in Dec beating Quothquan (11-0) by 14l, 7 ran.
