in touch, led 4th, driven when mistake and headed 4 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure from next, no impression on winner
chased leaders, headway 5 out, every chance next, soon outpaced, ridden and no impression when mistake 2 out
held up in rear, hit 2nd, mistake 5th, ridden and weakened from 3 out
held up in rear, steady headway 5 out, 4th and going well when fell next
tracked leader, driven after 5 out, led 4 out, ridden clear after 2 out, stayed on well
held up, chased leaders 5 out, outpaced when hampered next, never on terms
chased leaders to after 5 out, soon outpaced, weakened from 3 out
raced keenly, led to 4th, lost place 7th, behind when hit 5 out, pulled up before next
The day's feature race should go to Well Chief, with Armaturk expected to give him more to do than stablemate and last year's winner Kadarann. The sky is the limit now for Well Chief, with last year's Arkle form advertised to the hilt by his victims Kicking King and Le Duc recently, and before meeting Azertyuiop and Moscow Flyer at Cheltenham again in March, Martin Pipe's exciting chaser can add to his reputation by landing this prestigious contest. He met three of today's rivals, including Armaturk, at Cheltenham in November on what was his seasonal reappearance, and after taking some time to get going, made up an enormous amount of ground on the run-in to go down by a head only. He is strongly fancied to turn the tables this time to stop the other big west-country yard from landing the spoils again. Kadarann beat Flagship Uberalles in a substandard renewal 12 months ago but has it to do with the selection as does Cenkos. Mister McGoldrick has a great record round here but has been beaten by Well Chief on the three occasions that they have met, and although his trainer Sue Smith is bullish, the form book does not lie. The truth is that Well Chief will take all the beating.
