A race that is now well-established as one of the highlights of the jumping season, certainly away from the main festivals, with winners including Kauto Star (4 times), Cue Card (3 times) and Bristol de Mai (3 times), the last-named in attendance here but thoroughly eclipsed by one who further enhanced the standing of this event with a performance of total domination. The pace was good, as was the overall time (which was quicker than the official one, where the start seems to have been triggered prematurely), the leaders several lengths ahead of par over the first six fences, then just a few lengths behind it mid-race, A Plus Tard finishing off strongly while his opposition wilted.
A PLUS TARD (c176+ here, 174 previously) had comfortably the best form but may well have taken it up a further notch or two in winning this by a wide margin and with considerable ease, ground on the border of “good to soft” and “good” and a level track enabling him to exploit his significant speed as well as his proven stamina against rivals who simply could not cope. He raced in fourth to begin with, jumped and travelled well, loomed up on the home turn, his rider able to take a pull soon after, led just after 3 out and drew clear as his opposition caved in, nonetheless fast himself in the closing stages and appearing to have plenty left in the locker. His trainer, who understandably had him straighter than usual for this reappearance given the importance of the race, is of the opinion that A Plus Tard needs to go left-handed, which suggests Leopardstown rather than Kempton before ultimately another go at winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup, in which he came up just short against stable-companion Minella Indo in March: his chance in that race would probably be improved by conditions similar to these, but that he is up to the usual winning calibre can be in little doubt.
ROYALE PAGAILLE (c157 here, 163 previously) emerges with plenty of credit, a bit more than the bare margin suggests, though the evidence so far is that he will have to improve to be a genuine threat in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He disputed the lead for much of the way, went on for sure at the last in the back straight for the final time (5 out), but was living on borrowed time as the winner sauntered up soon after, headed after 4 out and ultimately paying somewhat for his exertions (quite slow finishing speed %, also reported to have suffered a wound to a leg). His trio of impressive wins last season came on ground softer than this, and his jumping was not without blemish asked to lie up with/help force what was a demanding enough pace for all bar the winner.
CHATHAM STREET LAD (c138+ here, 156 previously) got beaten out of sight but actually shaped quite well for a return to less exacting tasks, held up in the back two and sloppy at a few but improving to be only a few lengths down 4 out before weakening. He won at 25f at Limerick in March against inferior opposition but his very best effort remains his Caspian Caviar success at 21f on soft.
CLONDAW CASTLE (c130 here, 157 previously) was again better than the result but with rather less promise than at Wetherby, held up and slightly hampered by the faller at the 13th, closing a bit before emptying markedly from the second-last, this trip probably beyond him when the pace is like this.
BRISTOL DE MAI (c0 here, 169 previously) made a good fist of winning his 4th Betfair Chase for a long way, leading/disputing the lead and going with zest until 5 out, but emptied after 4 out and had dropped to last of 5 when pulled up before the second-last.
IMPERIAL AURA (c? here, 161 previously) departed too far out – at the 13th – to know what might have happened, but he had raced close up and with plenty of vim up to that point, and the likelihood is that he has come back as good as ever providing this does not leave its mark.
WAITING PATIENTLY (c0 here, 165? previously), who had been switched from Ruth Jefferson’s stable prior to this, is running out of time for a revival and offered little here, making a couple of mistakes and losing touch then pulled up before 4 out, possibly no longer as keen as he once was.
