One of the elite handicap chases in the Racing Calendar, won by some of the sport’s greats and several future Cheltenham Gold Cup winners in its 64-year history, though this year’s winner has no pretensions to being quite that class, and, overall, it was a highly competitive affair rather than a conspicuously classy one. The pace was strong – with a finishing speed quite a bit slower than par at 96.6%, and some of the beaten horses paid for it and can be excused what might on paper be poor efforts.
CLOUDY GLEN (c147 here, 144 previously) benefited from a breathing operation since being pulled up at Aintree when last seen, though his win at Fontwell and second at the Cheltenham Festival earlier last season were not far below the level he showed here. He was soon prominent just behind the leaders, led before 4 out and was left clear there, joined again approaching the last and held on gamely with nothing to spare.
FIDDLERONTHEROOF (c157 here, 156 previously) ran a fine race and expelled any notion that he might not be an out-and-out stayer, or put it all in, tracking the pace, making an effort when slightly hampered 4 out and closing to have every chance approaching the last, not as quick as the winner there but coming back for more at the death.
BRAHMA BULL (c141 here, 159 previously) picked up the pieces to finish third but was behind and getting nowhere at halfway before staying on late. He is a decidedly smart chaser though not quite good enough for the best non-handicaps and set to carry plenty of weight in races like this.
ONTHEROPES (c135 here, 153 previously) had a stiffer task than when winning the Munster National the time before but could have been expected to do better, none too fluent and getting behind, passing beaten rivals late on. He’ll probably do better next time, at least in terms of ratings.
DEMACHINE (c123+ here, 142+ previously) shaped quite encouragingly on his first run since February, coming from behind to chase the leaders into the home straight and still looking like he might get placed until weakening 2 out. His clear second to Remastered in the 24f Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot looks better if anything after this, also.
CLOTH CAP (c130+ here, 154 previously) showed up better than the result suggests, making most until approaching 4 out and still just about third jumping the last. He had shot up the weights since winning this race 12 months earlier, however.
FORTESCUE (c112 here, 139 previously) was never better than mid-field and below form.
FULL BACK (c108 here, 138 previously) never figured after a significant error at the first.
THE HOLLOW GINGE (c111+ here, 141 previously) shaped better than the result though has been hit and miss overall, improving from mid-field to be not too far away entering the home straight, only to weaken 3 out.
BRAVE EAGLE (c0 here, 149 previously) never figured, making some mistakes.
MISTER MALARKY (c0 here, 155? previously) has been inconsistent for a while now and looked to lose interest early here.
REMASTERED (c154? here, 146 previously) was running a big race, and might have won, when falling 4 out, always prominent (led briefly early) and a neck down on Cloudy Glen when departing, worth rating just ahead of that rival given he was going at least as well as one who finished slower than par thereafter. He won 3 novice chases last term, notably the Reynoldstown at Ascot from Demachine, and should have further success providing this does not leave a mark.
ENRILO (c? here, 144 previously) fell in the back straight – too far out to say what would have happened – but had been going quite sweetly until that point.
ANNAMIX (c0 here, 154 previously) was well held when falling 3 out, though had shown up reasonably well until the home turn.
DANNY WHIZZBANG (c0 here, 128 previously)
ONE MORE FLEURIE (c0 here, 135 previously)
CANELO (c0 here, 144 previously)
COPPERHEAD (c0 here, ? previously) showed a little more zip close up than in some recent starts but had been niggled along before blundering away his chance at the fifteenth.
POTTERMAN (c0 here, 148 previously)
KITTY’S LIGHT (c0 here, 150 previously)
EKLAT DE RIRE (c0 here, 157 previously) ran no sort of race, making errors, and was reported to have lost his action. His Naas win as a novice and recent win at Wexford both gave him every chance on form in this much bigger field.
