in touch, lost place from 9th, weakened approaching 4 out
held up, headway after 4 out, weakened next
led until headed approaching 15th, mistake next, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened flat
chased leader, weakened 11th pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, led approaching 15th, drew clear from next, easily
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on from next
mid-division, pushed along after 3rd, hit 7th, mistake 10th, reminders and struggling from 11th
held up, headway 11th, weakend approaching 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, outpaced 9th, headway when blundered 4 out, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
chased leaders, mistake 10th, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
Aces Four can come out on top over Jaunty Times, Ungaro and Standin Obligation in this battle of the novice chasers. Ferdy Murphy had a good Cheltenham Festival, and although Aces Four did not manage to add to the stable's haul, he did run well to finish fourth behind Denman in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, and who knows, may well have got a lot closer had he not made a howler at the third last. Aces Four is still on the upgrade, and the fact that he has won on fast ground before adds to his chances. He had Ungaro and Turko behind at Cheltenham, and should hold the pair again, although this track will certainly suit Mary Reveley's charge. Jaunty Times is expected to run well by connections, having recovered well from his exertions when flopping in soft ground in the Midlands Grand National. Standin Obligation bypassed Cheltenham to wait for this and looks best of the Pipe pair, but Arkle fourth Faasel is untried over the trip, so you are basically guessing with him. Aces Four is the more reliable, with no question marks over the ground or stamina, and he can give Ferdy Murphy another big winner.
Boychuk (IRE) 8-15fav (11-10) Disputed lead until 12th, soon driven along, closed on leader approaching 2 out, led last, soon headed, no extra close home, 2nd of 4, 1l behind Ballyfoy (11-6) at Ascot 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Mar.
Ungaro (FR) 11-1 (11-4) Held up, headway into mid-division 13th, mistake next, never in contention with leaders, 6th of 17, 19l behind Denman (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Yes Sir (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Not fluent, led, until mistake and headed 4th, chased leader, blundered 12th, weakening when mistake 4 out tailed off, 4th of 7, well behind Natal (11-7) at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Standin Obligation (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leading pair, ridden approaching 14th, soon beaten, last of 3, well behind Denman (11-12) at Newbury 3m nov chs (2) sft in Feb.
Aces Four (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Raced keenly, always prominent, led 11th, headed when stumbled badly on landing 3 out, no impression on winner next, one pace after, 4th of 17, 14l behind Denman (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Dom d'Orgeval (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Held up and behind, effort into mid-divison 15th, ridden and struggling after 4 out, 10th of 17, 33l behind Denman (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Jaunty Times 11-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, hit 5 out, 7 lengths adrift and weakening when blundered 4 out, pulled up before 2 out pulled up in race won by Baron Windrush (10-9) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lst hcp chs (1) sft in Mar, 18 ran.
Killaghy Castle (IRE) 2-11fav (11-6) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd after 3rd until 9th, headway on bit approaching 3 out, led 3 out, shaken up between last 2 easily, won at Sandown 2m nov chs (3) sft in Mar beating Arumun (10-13) by 3l, 3 ran.
Faasel (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) In rear, driven along from 8th, headway from 3 out, slightly hampered 2 out, stayed on same pace from last, 4th of 13, 7l behind My Way de Solzen (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grd 1 (1) sft in Mar.
Turko (FR) 9-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 9th, mistakes 12th and 14th, soon ridden, no real progress from 4 out, 7th of 17, 20l behind Denman (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
