held up towards rear, hampered 5th, headway 3 out, ridden after next, effort and every chance last, stayed on under pressure to chase winner towards finish
mid-division when pulled up quickly before 22nd
mid-division, jumped left 5th and next when rider lost iron briefly, continued to jump left, lost place 20th, pulled up before next
mid-division, chased leaders 26th, outpaced 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, headway 3 out, effort and every chance approaching last, soon ridden, one pace when switched left and rider dropped whip flat, kept on towards finish
in touch, dropped towards rear 9th, no danger after
always prominent, led 23rd to 26th, led again 6 out, headed 3 out, ridden to regain lead last, edged right under pressure flat, stayed on towards finish
prominent, hit 21st, lost place 5 out, soon weakened
mid-division when ran out 16th
held up in rear, blundered 16th, short lived effort 6 out, never near leaders
in touch, effort 2 out, soon ridden, one pace when switched left approaching last, no extra flat
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
led to 23rd, with winner, led again 26th, headed 6 out, outpaced 2 out, soon weakened
towards rear of mid-division, hampered 5th, ridden 5 out, never on terms
held up behind, headway and in touch 24th, led 3 out, ridden and headed last, kept on same pace under pressure flat
A New Story beat several of these to spring a surprise in this race 12 months ago but Michael Hourigan's veteran has 6lb more to carry this time and could have trouble confirming the form. L'Ami was runner-up last year and filled the same position behind stablemate Garde Champetre in 2009 so deserves a change of luck. He may be the pick of Enda Bolger's four-strong team this time around but there looks to be several lurking near the foot of the handicap that may have his measure. Maljimar was still going well when falling on the second circuit of last year's Grand National and has place form over these fences, while it would be no surprise to see Poker De Sivola in the firing line if taking to this unique track as he won the 4m National Hunt Chase at this meeting last year. Sizing Australia was badly hampered when still in touch in this in 2010 but whether he would have made the frame is still debatable and the pick of the weights from last year's race may well be ANOTHER JEWEL. He was finishing best of all in fourth place and a subsequent run behind L'Ami at Punchestown suggest Denis Murphy's stayer is well handicapped off the same mark today with a recent run at Gowran sure to have blow away any cobwebs.
Garde Champetre (FR) 1-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders mainly 3rd, closer from 20th, pushed along to go 2nd after 3 out, challenged approaching last where led, driven out and kept on well run-in, won at Punchestown 3m crs cntry chs (5yo+) hvy in Feb beating Lord Nellerie (10-11) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
L'ami (FR) 12-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders in 7th, close 5th 4 out, weakened next, 18th of 21, well behind Square Sphere (10-4) at Punchestown 3m hcp hdl sft in Jan.
Quolibet (FR) 25-1 (10-3) 5th of 10, 16l behind Rubi Ball (10-10) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 6f chs Grd 2 hvy in Nov.
Gullible Gordon (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Mistake and hampered 1st, in touch on inside, 3rd when fell 13th (bechers brook), in a race won by Hello Bud (10-5) at Aintree 3m 2f lstd hcp chs (1) gs in Nov, 17 ran.
A New Story (IRE) 33-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, improved to lead 3 out, ridden and headed after next, kept on from last, 3rd of 20, 1 1/2l behind Silent Creek (10-2) at Naas 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 sft.
Dream Alliance 28-1 (11-7) Behind, hit 1st and reminders, reminders again after 4th, hit 6th, tailed off from 15th, pulled up 6 out, in a race won by Synchronised (11-6) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs (1) sft in Jan, 18 ran.
Sizing Australia (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden in 8th and no extra 3 out, kept on one pace, 8th of 17, 20l behind Odonimee (10-0) at Navan 2m hcp hdl 80-116 hvy in Feb.
Freneys Well 16-1 (11-5) Close up until outpaced 27th, stayed on again after 4 out, never going pace to trouble leading trio, 4th of 10, 23l behind Lacdoudal (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cntry chs (5yo+) (2) gs in Nov.
One Cool Cookie (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders when unseated rider 4th (Rubys Double), in a race won by Garde Champetre (11-4) at Punchestown 3m crs cntry chs (5yo+) hvy in Feb, 7 ran.
Poker De Sivola (FR) 11-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along 9f out, losing ground over 7f out, weakened 5f out, 7th of 11, well behind Lightening Rod (10-11) at Southwell 2m n h flat (4) std in Dec.
Quezac De La Roque (FR) (10-12) 8th of 16, 20l behind Bambi Du Rheu (11-4) at Fontainebleau(FR) 2m 3f hdl sft in Feb.
Oscar Bay (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) In touch towards rear until dropped to rear from 8th, struggling 11th, tailed off 5 out, 8th of 12, 16l behind Grand Slam Hero (11-11) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Aug.
Lord Nellerie (FR) 14-1 (10-11) Led, driven along after 3 out, strongly pressed fom 2 out, headed at last where slight mistake, no extra and kept on one pace run-in, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Garde Champetre (11-4) at Punchestown 3m crs cntry chs (5yo+) hvy in Feb.
Another Jewel (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Always towards rear, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by The Sneezer (10-10) at Gowran Park 2m 4f Ext hcp ch hvy in Feb, 14 ran.
Maljimar (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake 14th, chased leaders next, ridden and weakened before last, 7th of 17, 32l behind Blazing Bailey (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
King Johns Castle (IRE) 2-1 (12-0) Led, clear from 6th, red adv 3out, hdd last, one pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Session Or Ression (12-0) at Rathcannon 3m ire ptp sft in Feb.
