Reporter: Simon Rowlands
A race which, as much as anything, served to highlight how bare the cupboard currently is with British-trained staying chasers, five of which turned up but barely caused a ripple in the betting for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. The pace was surprisingly strong, resulting in a slow finish (around 97% finishing speed) and an unexceptional overall time, the proximity of the fourth calling the bare form somewhat into question.
CHANTRY HOUSE (c160 here and previously) got the job done in the end, but it was hard work for a long way for him in first-time cheekpieces, and he failed to improve on the best of his previous form, this about a stone shy of what is likely to be needed to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Kept wide, he was in touch but less than fluent and needing to be niggled along at various stages before staying on to lead approaching the last, ridden out and dismounted after the line.
SANTINI (c154 here, 158? previously) showed there is some fire in the belly still under a bold ride, making most and rallying late on. This form is about 16 lb below what he achieved in winning this race in 2020, and his best chance of getting nearer to that level again would be at still longer distances.
AYE RIGHT (c156 here, 159 previously) ran creditably, though possibly not quite to the level of his Rehearsal Chase win (from a next-time winner) the time before, going with zest close up and looking the likeliest winner when leading again 3 out (touched 2/1 on in running) only to find no extra in what turned into quite a gruelling affair. He is a dependable sort, but vulnerable against the best.
KAUTO RIKO (c147? here, 139 previously) seemed to run well but merely picked up some of the pieces late on and is better rated on his previous efforts.
SIMPLY THE BETTS (c146 here, 157 previously) should have been a contender if he stayed, but that was not the issue here as he was in trouble a long way out.
