Andreas tracked leading pair until went 2nd at 7th, soon clear of rest, closed on leader before 3 out, led 2 out, soon clear, ridden out

Lord Henry held up in rear, well off the pace from 4th, progress after 10th, ridden and stayed on well to take 2nd near finish, no hope with winner

Fiepes Shuffle led and soon clear, 12 lengths ahead 4th, came back to winner 3 out, headed next, weakened and lost 2nd near finish

Lennon tended to jump left, chased clear leader to 7th, outpaced in 3rd after, no danger after

Mahogany Blaze settled in rear and well off the pace from 4th, struggling 10th, stayed on from 3 out, mistake last, nearest finish

Monet´s Garden prominent when pecked badly 2nd, outpaced in midfield from 4th, no danger after, kept on from 2 out

Celestial Gold chased leading trio to 4th, soon badly outpaced and well in rear, no chance after, plugged on

Pablo Du Charmil prominent in chasing group, chased leading trio from 4th, clear of rest 7th, mistake 8th, no progress after, weakened 3 out

Priors Dale always in last trio and well off the pace, never a factor

Nyrche held up in rear and well off the pace, behind from 6th, no chance after, broke blood vessel

Howle Hill last when blundered 3rd, not recover, pulled up before 6th

Another contrived race from the foot and mouth year, a consolation for Champion Chase horses missing their Grade 1 chance. It has subsequently attracted some Champion Chase contenders, with Well Chief and Azertyuiop lining up in 2005, but that was the last year it lived up to its Grade 2 status, despite the classy Dempsey winning last season from a below-average field.

Again there was only one 160-plus rated contender in Monet's Garden, who was like a fish out of water dropping back to 2m on rapidly drying ground and the overall form leaves it just below its status, which on the evidence of the last three years it will be lucky to maintain.

The course record had been lowered in the last two runnings and ANDREAS went close to making it three onthe trot after another strongly run affair, thanks to the efforts of Fiepes Shuffle, who deserves credit for finishing third.

Andreas had his optimum conditions, as he had when winning the 2007 Grand Annual. This year's softer ground at Cheltenham just caught him out under a big weight and he has looked to be struggling off his higher mark in handicaps. That puts the race into perspective, as he was the only one able to shadow the trailblazer from the railway fences midway down the back straight and he found plenty into the last to come home unchallenged up the run-in. He clearly enjoys the spring and faster ground but will be done no favours by the handicapper.

Lennon was another who would have preferred a bit more cut in the ground and kept on when it was all over.

Monet's Garden stumbled over the second and was awkward over the next downhill fence, suggesting he was taken off his feet, and he dropped back into midfield before making modest late headway,failing to run anywhere near his rating, which entitled him to win clearly.

Nyrche, who was second in this race in 2006 but had been off the track for 525 days, was reported to have bled. [BJ]

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