slightly hampered 2nd, always in rear, never remotely involved, continued tailed off
tracking leaders when fell 2nd
tracked winner, led 3rd until approaching 7th, chased winner, went left next, pushed along and every chance when went left 3 out, soon ridden, went left 2 out, driven and no impression when dropped to 3rd between last 2
hampered 1st, tracked leaders, not fluent 7th (water), pushed along before 3 out, no progress, lost modest 4th post
led, jumped slowly and headed 3rd, chased leader, led again approaching 7th, went left 2 out, soon in command, went left again last, driven out
tracked leaders, went 2nd between last 2, no impression on winner
held up in touch, badly hampered 2nd, well behind in last pair, in touch 10th, plugging on disputing modest 4th from 3 out, went 4th post, never able to recover
Sprinter Sacre will be near the head of the market in this but he's rather trading on past glories and is impossible to fancy on his fairly listless performance in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, where he went out like a light at the top of the hill and was pulled up. Mr Mole was last of the eight finishers that day but is another who will be backed being A P McCoy's final ride in a Grade 1. SPECIAL TIARA was just behind Somersby when third in the Champion Chase and filled the same spot in this last year behind Sire De Grugy. Henry De Bromhead's front-runner can reverse Festival form here with Mick Channon's veteran and seems certain to give supporters a run for their money again so gets the nod ahead of the novice God's Own, who finished ahead of Vibrato Valtat and Court Minstrel in the Arkle but then ran in snatches when beaten by Sizing Granite at Aintree.
Court Minstrel (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Held up, hampered 1st, closed 4 out, driven and went 3 lengths 2nd when bumped and blundered last, 4th and no impression after, 4th of 6, 7l behind Sizing Granite (11-4) at Aintree 2m nov chs G1 (1) gd.
God's Own (IRE) 15-8fav (11-4) Held up, mistake 6th, headway after 4 out, went 3 lengths 2nd from last, stayed on, closing on winner towards finish, unable to challenge, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Sizing Granite (11-4) at Aintree 2m nov chs G1 (1) gd.
Mr Mole (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 3rd or 9th, outpaced before 3 out, never able to get on terms, weakening when mistake 2 out, 8th of 9, 38l behind Dodging Bullets (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Somersby (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Held up in mid-division, headway on outside before 7th, not fluent 4 out, close 3rd next, pushed along before 2 out, went 2nd from last, soon every chance, stayed on, held final 75 yards, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Dodging Bullets (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Special Tiara 18-1 (11-10) Took keen hold, led, clear after 2nd until 7th, headed 2 out, still every chance last, stayed on, no impression on front pair final 100 yards, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Dodging Bullets (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Sprinter Sacre (FR) 9-4fav (11-10) Held up in mid-division, took keen hold, headway from 4 out, shaken up briefly after next, soon beaten and eased, pulled up before last, in a race won by Dodging Bullets (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m chs G1 (1) gd in Mar, 9 ran.
Vibrato Valtat (FR) 9-4 (11-4) Tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 12th, went 2nd after 2 out, ridden before last, unable to get on terms with winner, stayed on, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Clarcam (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f nov chs G1 (1) gs.
