Expert Analysis

A fairly competitive Queen Mother Champion Chase but one lacking a bit of quality with the previous winners Altior and Politologue late defections and the odds-on favourite below his best. The message from earlier in the week was that this may take a lot more winning next year with Shishkin (and hopefully Energumene) emerging from the novice ranks. It proved to be a messy race, nearly 3.0s slower to three out than the Grand Annual won by Sky Pirate later on and merely a similar time from that point to the finish. Less than 10 lengths covered the first seven home.

PUT THE KETTLE ON has seldom been favoured in the betting but has nearly always turned up and run her race, and that was enough to win this messy one while some got in each other’s way and others underperformed. Helping to make the running, she turned in just ahead, was overtaken by Chacun Pour Soi approaching the last then battled back to get in front again near the finish. Her mares’ allowance made the difference, and accounts for her 157 rating here – the lowest by a winner of this race in recent times – but she has a tenacity which makes her difficult to beat. She has won at 20f, if not at this level, and seems equally effective on good to soft going, as here, and in the mud.

NUBE NEGRA (ran to 163, rated 165) was a shade unlucky in the end, though he may not get such a good chance to win this race a second time, held up in touch going well, stalking the leaders turning in and seemingly delivered to perfection at the last, only to stumble on landing there, have to be switched and just fail to get up. He is an out-and-out two-miler, effective on soft, and is a quick and accurate jumper most of the time.

CHACUN POUR SOI turned in a slightly puzzling effort, though perhaps took a bit too much out of himself by travelling strongly in a steadily run affair, tracking the pace (shut the door on a couple of rivals after three out) and quickening to lead approaching the last (went 1.15 in running), only to empty in the final 100 yards. This looks to be about 11 lb behind his 173 best, including when winning the last two Dublin Chases at Leopardstown and having Put The Kettle On back in third at the same course over Christmas. He is likely to be back but is getting no younger and may not get a better chance than this to win at the Festival. 

GREANETEEN at least matched his previous 161-rated best, with a speed-favouring two miles up his street, held up in touch, making a few minor errors but bang there until one paced on the run-in. 

SCEAU ROYAL (163 coming into this) might have gone close but for being badly hampered on the inner after three out, just asked for his effort at the time, rallying but with a bit too much to do. A two-miler over hurdles or fences, he is as good as ever right now. 

FIRST FLOW was not in the same form as at Ascot, making mistakes and not really going (seemed to hang right at one stage) but getting himself back into contention briefly before finding no extra from the last. Softer ground may be important for him. 

NOTEBOOK is a bit below top class but should have fared better, close enough until weakening between the last two and about 10 lb below form. 

CILAOS EMERY jumped poorly and was soon in trouble. 

ROUGE VIF finished last for the second time in a row, headed and pushed along when hampered after three out, and needs treating with caution at present. His 163-rated course-and-distance win entitled him to go close.