led, joined approaching 3rd, slight mistake 4th and soon led again, strongly pressed straight, kept on well run-in, headed close home
waited with early, soon tracked leaders on outer, travelling smoothly in 3rd before straight, soon pushed along to challenge and every chance, slight mistake 2 out, no extra in 3rd and one pace close home
slight mistake 1st, waited with towards rear, closed up on inner 3 out and slightly impeded, pushed along in 5th before straight, soon no impression, slight mistake 2 out and no extra
slight mistake 1st, slightly slow 2nd, waited with towards rear, pushed along after 3 out, last before straight, soon no impression
tracked leaders, not fluent jumping, lost position 4 out, 6th before straight, soon no impression
tracked leaders, slight mistake 3 out, soon pushed along, 4th before straight, soon progress on inner, challenged between horses before last, stayed on well run-in to lead close home
close up, on terms approaching 3rd, slight mistake 4th and headed and raced in 2nd, slightly slow 4 out, pushed along before straight, dropped to 4th and slight mistake 2 out, soon no impression, one pace
Ex Patriot, who won here in January and was disqualified after finishing first past on a return visit a month later, ran a cracking race in the Triumph Hurdle where he had every chance approaching the last only to stay on at one pace. He looks a fine prospect and should again take care of Dandy Mag, who never got competitive and Dinaria Des Obeaux, who was the benefactor when he was thrown out here but was well beaten at Cheltenham. Dandy Mag's trainer also runs ORION D'AUBRELLE, who is the unknown of the race. A very easy winner in France in October, he's entered in a Grade 1 at Punchestown so is presumably highly regarded and will be ready for this so gets the nod. John Quinn sends Project Bluebook from Yorkshire and he ran well in the Fred Winter though looks a bit behind the home runners on that form.
Dandy Mag (FR) 22-1 (11-0) Always behind, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off, 13th of 15, 33 1/4l behind Defi Du Seuil (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gd in Mar.
Ex Patriot (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Held up behind, headway on outside before 2 out, ridden to challenge before last, soon one pace, no impression in 4th flat, 4th of 15, 7 1/4l behind Defi Du Seuil (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gd in Mar.
Long Call 9-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, bumped 3 out, headway after next, 8th and no impression last, weakened flat, 10th of 22, 12 3/4l behind Flying Tiger (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar.
On The Go Again (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Prominent, soon 2nd, slightly impeded and slight mistake 7th, on terms 3 out, just headed and slight mistake 2 out, disputed lead at last, led and stayed on best closing stages, won at Navan 2m mdn hvy in Mar beating Icario (11-7) by nk, 12 ran.
Orion D'Aubrelle (FR) (10-7) won at Strasbourg 2m 1f sft in Oct beating Diligent (10-7) by 12l, 7 ran.
Project Bluebook (FR) 14-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders on inside, hit 1st and lost place, headway 3 out, switched right before last, went 4th flat, stayed on same pace, 4th of 22, 5 1/2l behind Flying Tiger (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Dinaria Des Obeaux (FR) 10-1 (10-7) Pressed leader, ridden when lost place after 2 out, weakened before last, 11th of 15, 21 1/4l behind Defi Du Seuil (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gd in Mar.
