The retirement of dual winner Moscow Flyer left a big gap in this race, and the absence of his surprise Queen Mother Champion Chase successor did not help. However, while this was far from a vintage renewal, it was an open one, and there was always likely to be plenty of pace on, with four in the field who habitually like to front run or press for the lead. In the event, the battle for the lead was soon won by Central House, but Impek moved up to press him at the seventh, so there was no let up. Several key runners performed as if Cheltenham had left its mark, but not HI CLOY, who had possibly been settled too far off the pace in the Ryanair and had never got on terms, but had since run at Navan.

The strong pace suited Hi Cloy ideally, because he stays better than most of these, having won over three miles as a novice, and he had five of these behind him when winning two Grade 1 races at this trip before Christmas, albeit fortuitously on one occasion when Central House's rider mistook the winning post. He travelled well on the heels of the leaders, and went to the front at the cross fence, four from home, which connections said was sooner than intended. Though pressed on either side by Fota Island and Mariah Rollins at the second-last, the latter was soon beaten and after pricking his ears going to the last he held on well on the run-in. Connections are eyeing a return to three miles for the Heineken at Punchestown, where he would be likely to meet Beef Or Salmon.

Fota Island won the two-mile handicap here last year and has improved again in a limited campaign this season, his second to Newmill in the Champion Chase representing his best form. He had every chance and went down fighting again, but while one couldn't say he didn't stay here,all of his wins are at around two miles and that looks his ideal trip.

Don't Be Shy's heavy-ground win at Lingfield gave him a squeak, even though he is still only a novice, but his jumping was far from fluent at the back of the field and the writing was on the wall from an early stage. He was driven to chase the leading group at the end of the back straight but was soon a spent force and trailed in well adrift of the two principals.

Strong Project, the sixth and last finisher, was unable to lead and didn't jump well. He is a bit better than this. With the exception of Central House, who was out on his feet after setting a strong pace when he technically refused at the last, the rest were pulled up.

The track should have suited the Champion Chase third Mister McGoldrick, but he didn't run his race and lost his place quickly setting out on the final circuit. Cheltenham specialist Fondmort started to struggle at a similar point, and a blunder starting down the far side, by which time he was alreadywell in rear, effectively finished him. This track is too sharp for him, on top of which he had a hard race in the Ryanair, so this run can be forgiven.

River City, held up as usual, was pulled up starting down the back straight, and while Ryanairthird Impek lasted longer, he was struggling at the end of the back straight. This was only the second time Impek has failed to complete. Jim has been a model of consistency but in this company he couldn't afford a blunder like the one at the fifth. [GD]

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