in touch, closed 3 out, slow and awkward 2 out, 3rd and held flat, kept on same pace
towards rear, hampered 15th, soon pulled up
towards rear, slow 10th, mid-division 12th, towards rear when fell 20th
mid-division after slow jump 1st, headway 20th, chasing leaders last, no extra final 75 yards
prominent, led 22nd, headed before 28th, no extra last
towards rear, took keen hold, mistake 2nd, not fluent 11th, fell 15th
prominent, slow 19th, outpaced 28th, well beaten from after 3 out
in rear, mistake 1st, struggling 3 out, no impression
chased leaders, went 2nd 8th, led 14th, headed 15th, led before 28th, hard pressed from last, stayed on well
towards rear, not fluent 26th, headway from pressing for 3rd flat, no extra final 75 yards
mid-division, headway 26th, pecked 3 out, no impression next
chased leaders, went 2nd last, every chance flat, stayed on, held towards finish
held up towards rear, struggling after mistake 25th
refused to race
soon led, headed 14th, led next, headed 22nd, mistake and lost place 3 out, weakened from 2 out
DELTA WORK runs off joint topweight, but his amateur pilot is more than competent and the course and distance scorer is unquestionably the class act. That win came when - to many eyes - he played the villain in overcoming Tiger Roll at last year's festival, but it was a splendid performance which sets a strong standard here. Minella Times is a fascinating runner but has only completed once since that famous 2021 Grand National victory with Rachael Blackmore. It will be intriguing to see how he takes to this discipline. Roi Mage and Singing Banjo strengthen the Irish hand further and are not discounted, whilst Diesel D'Allier and Snow Leopardess look best of the home contingent. Easysland, a massive disappointment since leaving his French yard, will be dangerous if suddenly finding his form.
Delta Work (FR) 4-6fav (11-9) Prominent, settled in mid-division after 4th, not fluent 17th, pushed along before 3 out, 4th after next, 2nd at last, ridden and led narrowly final 100 yards, stayed on well, all out, won at Punchestown 3m 1f Yielding in Nov beating Singing Banjo (11-9) by shd, 17 ran.
Minella Times (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, hampered 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before last, at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Roi Mage (FR) 50-1 (11-3) Disputed lead, led after 2nd, not fluent at 5th, headed 2 out, soon dropped to 3rd, weakened before last, 3rd of 5, 16 1/4l behind Minella Indo (11-0) at Tramore 2m 6f (1) hvy in Jan.
Francky Du Berlais (FR) 80-1 (11-5) Rear mid-division, pushed along 10th, struggling home turn, 10th of 12, dist behind Fugitif (10-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Snow Leopardess 8-1 (11-13) Chased leaders on inside until lost place and towards rear at 9th, brief rally out wide when hit 3 out, never dangerous after, 7th of 18, 12 1/4l behind Wishing And Hoping (11-10) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Foxy Jacks (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Always prominent, 2nd halfway and led after 10th, slight mistake and headed briefly 3 out, ridden and headed approaching straight, 5th at last and hampered early run-in, kept on one pace, 5th of 28, 2 1/4l behind Real Steel (10-8) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Dec.
Diesel D'Allier (FR) 12-1 (11-4) In touch, ridden 4 out, 3rd briefly 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 16, 30 1/4l behind Delta Work (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) hvy in Mar.
Plan Of Attack (IRE) 80-1 (10-8) Settled behind leaders, slight mistake 5th, 9th halfway, lost place 4 out, ridden and no extra next, pulled up before last, at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Back On The Lash 9-2 (10-13) Led until 3 out, chased leader until 2 out, where went left, chased leaders, went 2nd again at the last, stayed on run-in, lost 2nd final 100 yards, 3rd of 11, 3 3/4l behind Does He Know (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Mortal (IRE) 18-1 (10-0) Chased leader, dropped to rear of mid-division after 4th, 13th after 8th, progress after 4 out, no impression and weakened before last, 8th of 17, dist behind Birchdale (10-0) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Singing Banjo (IRE) 40-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway to track leaders 16th, led 18th, mistake 6 out, joined 3 out, headed next, led again before last, ridden and headed final 100 yards, rallied close home, just failed, 2nd of 17, shd behind Delta Work (11-9) at Punchestown 3m 1f Yielding in Nov.
Deise Aba (IRE) 22-1 (11-10) Raced wide in mid-division, hit 11th, weakened before 14th, tailed off 15th, pulled up before 17th, at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Easysland (FR) 40-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, lost place before 2 out, 10th of 11, 26 1/2l behind Rapper (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Legends Ryde 7-1 (12-0) Mid-division, headway 3 out, mistake and held 2 out, kept on again flat, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 5 3/4l behind Dame du Soir (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Crealion (FR) 12-1 (11-3) Made all, challenged 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on strongly run-in, won at Fontainebleau 2m 6f hcp sft in Nov beating Kapking (11-4) by 5l, 13 ran.
