tracked leaders, went 2nd after 21st, led 6 out, ridden and hard pressed approaching last, edged right flat, stayed on gamely, later disqualified and placed last
tracked leaders, mistake 21st, close up next, ridden and one pace before last, well held after, finished 6th, placed 5th
held up in touch when fell 16th
mid-division, headway 22nd, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden and every chance last, kept on same pace flat, held when lost 2nd towards finish, finished 3rd, placed 2nd
always behind, outpaced from 5 out, tailed off
towards rear of mid-divison, mistake 4th, struggling 19th, never a threat, tailed off, finished 9th, placed 8th
mid-division, headway after 22nd, outpaced in 6th after 2 out, soon ridden, rallied last, stayed on well under pressure flat, went 2nd towards finish, not reach winner, later awarded race
tracked leader to 21st, soon lost place behind when pulled up after 24th
mid-division, headway 22nd, chased leaders 6 out, outpaced after 3 out, ridden and stayed on to chase front pair before last, never on terms, lost 3rd flat, finished 4th, placed 3rd
always towards rear, lost touch 22nd, tailed off
always behind, weakened and pulled up after 23rd
chased leaders, lost place after 22nd, no danger after, weakened from 3 out, tailed off, finished 8th, placed 7th
mid-division, close up 22nd, tracked leaders 6 out, outpaced when not much room between last 2, no impression, finished 5th, placed 4th
held up, detached in rear most of way, never a threat, tailed off
never better than mid-division, lost place and pulled up before 22nd
led, headed 6 out, chased leaders, weakened from 2 out, tailed off, finished 7th, placed 6th
For the first time in 11 years, this isn't being run as a handicap so you would expect the classier stayers to come to the fore. Experience of these largely unique fences is vital so we'll give Cantlow, Dolatulo, Rossvoss, Gallic raider Utah De La Coquais and Third Intention a wide berth, though the latter actually has the highest official rating of the 16 declared runners. Ballyboker Bridge beat Cantlow and Love Rory at Punchestown in January but had earlier been beaten 14 lengths by JOSIES ORDERS over this course and distance. Nina Carberry's mount triumphed that day, despite runner-up Sire Collonges leaning into him approaching the final obstacle, and can again beat those behind which also included Bless The Wings, Valadom, Any Currency and Rivage D'Or – neither Love Rory nor Uncle Junior completed. Like the selection, stablemate Quantitativeeasing had a pipe-opener over hurdles at Navan last month but dual winner Balthazar King races for the first time since falling in last year's Grand National and isn't getting any younger.
Ballyboker Bridge (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Led, headed before 15th, regained lead after 16th, pressed from 7 out, ridden to assert before last, kept on strongly, won at Punchestown 3m sft in Jan beating Cantlow (11-4) by 4 1/4l, 12 ran.
Balthazar King (IRE) 17-2 (11-2) Mid-division on outside when fell heavily 8th (canal turn), at Aintree 4m 3f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Bless The Wings (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, blundered 15th, some headway and 6th after 2 out, went 4th last, stayed on, never on terms, 4th of 14, 26l behind Josies Orders (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) gs in Dec.
Cantlow (IRE) 11-10fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, progress into 5th after 3 out, left 4th 2 out and soon ridden, no impression before last, stayed on into 2nd run-in, 2nd of 12, 4 1/4l behind Ballyboker Bridge (11-11) at Punchestown 3m sft in Jan.
Dolatulo (FR) 12-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, headway 7 out, pushed along before 4 out, one pace and no impression, 7th of 15, 29 1/2l behind Ziga Boy (10-0) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
Josies Orders (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Mid-division, 9th halfway, ridden in 8th and no impression 3 out, kept on one pace, 9th of 12, 26 3/4l behind Nickname Exit (11-2) at Navan 2m 6f hcp hvy in Feb.
Love Rory (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, challenged 5 out, ridden in 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner before last, dropped to 3rd run-in, 3rd of 12, 5 1/2l behind Ballyboker Bridge (11-11) at Punchestown 3m sft in Jan.
Quantitativeeasing (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division, 8th halfway, ridden and no impression before straight, kept on one pace, 8th of 12, 26 1/2l behind Nickname Exit (11-2) at Navan 2m 6f hcp hvy in Feb.
Rivage D'Or (FR) 50-1 (10-5) In rear, mistake and unseated rider 7th, at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp sft in Jan.
Rossvoss 9-1 (11-6) Mid-division early, slight mistake 3rd, towards rear and reminder 7th, ridden and no impression before 3 out, 12th of 15, dist behind Rathpatrick (10-13) at Punchestown 3m hcp sft in Jan.
Sire Collonges (FR) 7-1 (11-8) Chased leader until 7th, went 2nd 14th, led after 2 out, went left last, headed final 100 yards, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Josies Orders (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) gs in Dec.
Third Intention (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Mid-division, lost place from 9th, tailed off, 6th of 12, dist behind Cloudy Too (10-4) at Haydock 3m hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Utah De La Coquais (FR) (10-12) won at Pau 3m 1f sft in Feb beating Star Rochelais (11-2) by 4l, 6 ran.
Valadom (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Led, jumped right 2nd and 4 out, headed 3 out, 3rd and one pace from 2 out, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Mystifiable (10-13) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
