The two-mile senior championship scene is in a state of flux. but this year's novices have already looked a graduate class and this cracking Grade 1 fully lived up to expectations.

VOY POR USTEDES and Monet's Garden emerge virtually equal as the winner was getting the 5lb age allowance. That the pair had the race to themselves jumping two out, suggests they are destined for top honours, although they could well be taking different paths next season as the runner-up is seen as a Gold Cup contender, while the speedier winner should make the natural progression to the Champion, trying to emulate Flagship Uberalles. and go one better than Well Chief.

Voy Por Ustedes continues the trend of the weight-receiving five-year-olds in this championship race - this was the fourth winner in the last eight runnings - and while that allowance has been shaved from an outrageous 8lb when Champleve and Flagship Uberalles won, it needs to be looked at further, although it is a trappy issue with the import of more experienced French four-year-olds.

While getting the allowance, Voy Por Ustedes was more experienced over fences than his older rival and this French import also just had too much speed for Monet's Garden, who had travelled just as well running downhill into the last half-mile. The winner again exhibited his fast, fluent jumping which ultimately made the difference as Monet's Garden could not match it at the last and had to concede, although both were at full stretch.

There looks to be no chinks in the winner's armour as he handles all ground and, while beaten connections might point to the ground being too quick for them, this winner has looked equally exciting on soft ground in his last three wins. There are not many obvious opportunities for him now as the acknowledged Grade 1 winner. Bookmakers generally made him an 8-1 chance for the Champion Chase next year which looks an each-way steal, so the 10-1 with Ladbrokes makes plenty of appeal as he looks just as professional and classy as Well Chief.

Monet's Garden raised the stakes towards the end of the back straight and travelled supremely well while most of the pack were already being pushed along in his wake.

Hugging the inside, he slugged it out with the winner, who started to edge into him on the run-in, but was always being held by a length until the last strides.

Connections chose this over the SunAlliance with the prospect of softer ground last week and now his future looks to be over further. On the face of it, the 25-1 offered about him for the Gold Cup next year looked too big as he has shown stamina for that trip and last year beat Monkerhostin in the 20f Ascot Hurdle, although he was getting 8lb. He was the better hurdler on official ratings, but the winner had already nearly matched that mark over fences and looks to have improved again here.

Wild Passion, one of the biggest in this strong field, helped set the early pace, but was running around on the ground, suggesting he was finding it plenty fast enough. Given proper Irish ground, it would be no surprise if he got a lot closer to the principals and as such, this was a fine effort.

In contrast, Don't Be Shy, another who looks to need plenty of give, was never nearer than at the finish, having been niggled along at the back before halfway. He was still going nowhere three out before pulled wide around the bunching pack, and staying on up the hill. It was a slightly perplexing peformance, suggesting he needs to step back up in trip.

Missed That was undone by his careful jumping. He too could never get competitive and a bold move up the inside rail into the home bend backfired as he had no room before he plugged on at the one pace.

Racing Demon is to be aimed at Gold Cup races by connections now, admitting defeat for him as a speed horse on a sound surface. He jumped round well enough, but could never muster the pace from his outside pitch to land any sort of blow.

Tamarinbleu, one of the smallest in the field, got trapped in the pack and did not jump with any fluency, also getting jumped into by Arteea three out, when that rival lurched right. He is better than the bare form.

Cerium chased the pace, but a series of untidy leaps was always putting him on the back foot.

Mid Dancer, who looked well, was most disappointing, giving the outside up to nothing in midfield before weakening tamely.

Accordian Etoile was travelling well enough, buried in the pack, when surprisingly misjudging a fence midway down the back straight.

Crossbow Creek belted the second and never recovered, looking to unnerve himself and his rider wisely called it a day at the end of the back straight.

(BJ)

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