mid-division, mistake and lost iron briefly 5 out, 7th 2 out, kept on same pace without troubling leaders
led, joined halfway, headed 5 out, no extra from early straight, weakened
settled in mid-division, 8th halfway, good jump 4 out to go 2nd, challenged travelling best 2 out, disputed when left clear after last, soon ridden, no extra and headed closing strides
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, no extra from 4 out, weakened
always towards rear, behind when pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, 6th halfway, no extra from 4 out, weakened
always towards rear, tailed off
chased leaders, pulled up quickly after 10th
never a factor
rear of mid-division, in touch at rear of main group 4 out, 9th 2 out, kept on well without reaching leaders
tracked leaders, 7th halfway, no extra from early straight
towards rear, 9th 4 out, went 5th before 2 out, soon no impression and kept on one pace
mid-division, 13th halfway, headway approaching straight, 4th 3 out, no impression after next and kept on one pace
mid-division, 11th halfway, no threat from 4 out
mid-division, no threat from 4 out
rear of mid-division when fell 6 out
always towards rear, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, 10th halfway, 8th entering straight, went 3rd before 2 out, no impression approaching last, kept on well under pressure run-in to lead closing strides
prominent, close 3rd halfway, no extra from 3 out, weakened
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, no extra approaching 3 out, weakened
held up towards rear, no extra from 4 out
always prominent, disputed from halfway, led narrowly 5 out, strongly pressed and joined 2 out, under pressure but still disputing when stumbled badly on landing last, not recover
mid-division on inner, 12th halfway, no extra from 4 out
chased leaders, 9th halfway, no extra from 4 out
towards rear, no threat from 4 out
Jack The Bus won this a year ago but had two prep runs on the way and comes here on a 7lb higher mark. Ruby Walsh has chosen Prince De Beauchene over Some Target and Quadrillon but his mount generally needs a run to put him straight, though he ended the last campaign landing a Listed handicap at Aintree. Groody Hill has been a revelation recently and is obviously on the upgrade, though he tackles this trip for the first time and has shot up the weights. Tharawaat returned to action with an easy victory at Galway and wasn't disgraced in the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase later but a chance is taken with WHATUTHINK. Oliver McKiernan's charge doesn't win often but he's now on his lowest-ever mark and a couple of recent runs on the Flat will have prepared him for this test. Ad Idem is incredibly consistent but whether he has the experience for this is another matter.
Prince De Beauchene (FR) 10-1 (10-5) Mid-division, hampered 2nd, headway after 3rd, led approaching 12th, ridden and headed after 2 out, led again last, held on, won at Aintree 3m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr beating Categorical (10-0) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Tharawaat (IRE) 7-4 (11-4) Led, tended to jump left, headed 5 out, regained lead 3 out, strongly pressed and dropped to 3rd before next, no extra, 3rd of 4, 14l behind Tranquil Sea (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 4f chs G2 (1) sft.
Ad Idem 12-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway on outer 4 out, went close 4th 2 out, 3rd at last, kept on under pressure to challenge run-in, just failed, 2nd of 17, hd behind He'llberemembered (10-4) at Naas 2m 4f hcp hdl hvy in Oct.
Hughies Grey (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Chased clear leader in 2nd, closer from halfway, led 13th, headed 5 out, no extra and weakened from 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Organisedconfusion (9-13) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Ext hcp ch gd in Apr, 25 ran.
Whatuthink (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Chased leaders, slow jump 7 out, dropped to rear 5 out, no impression from 3 out, last of 6, 19l behind Archie Boy (11-2) at Punchestown 2m 2f chs in May.
Telenor 10-1 (10-13) Mid-division, 8th 6 out, no impression from 4 out, kept on same pace, 8th of 18, 17l behind Siegemaster (11-7) at Gowran Park 3m hcp chs sft in Jan.
Away We Go (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Mid-division, closer in 7th after 3 out, 4th next, soon no extra under pressure, 9th of 20, 27l behind Viaduct Joey (10-12) at Galway 2m 6f hcp hdl 8Evens23 hvy in Oct.
The Hurl (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden and no extra before 3 out, weakened and tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Voler La Vedette (11-3) at Navan 2m 4f hdl G2 (1).
Golden Kite (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Mistake 1st, chased leaders, went 2nd 8th until 10th, led 14th, ridden and headed 4 out, chased leaders under pressure until weakened before 2 out, 4th of 17, 20l behind Exmoor Ranger (10-10) at Ascot 3m Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Oct.
Some Target (IRE) 9-2 (10-8) Settled towards rear, 11th halfway, good headway entering straight to go 4th 2 out, 3rd at last and challenged briefly run-in, no impression on winner closing stages and kept on same pace, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Irish Soul (9-9) at Clonmel 3m hcp hdl sft.
Paddy Pub (IRE) 12-1 (9-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, 5th 4 out, ridden and no impression in 9th after next, kept on one pace, 9th of 14, 21l behind Irish Soul (9-9) at Clonmel 3m hcp hdl sft.
Jack The Bus (IRE) 9-1 (9-12) Held up in rear, headway from 5 out, challenged travelling well before 2 out, led at last, kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Navan 3m hcp chs 0-150 in Nov '10 beating Glenquest (9-10) by 3/4l, 17 ran.
Quadrillon (FR) 9-2fav (10-11) Towards rear when badly hampered 1st, some progress on wide outside from 6 out, moderate 8th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 9th of 18, 30l behind Benefit Night (10-4) at Naas 3m hcp chs sft in Mar.
Kakagh (IRE) 7-4fav (11-11) Tracked leaders on inner in 3rd, slight mistake 3 out, ridden approaching straight, no impression on winner from 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Out Now (11-6) at Clonmel 2m 4f hcp chs sft.
Ainama (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Soon in rear, slight mistake 6 out, well off pace and pushed along from 3 out, went moderate 4th and kept on same pace from before straight, 4th of 6, 12l behind Sweeps Hill (11-1) at Galway 2m 1f nov chs (1) hvy in Oct.
Leggy Lad (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Rear of mid-division, headway into 6th halfway, improved to 2nd 3 out, challenged 2 out when left in lead, ridden and kept on well from before last, won at Down Royal 2m 6f hcp chs 0-116 sft beating Linnel (11-5) by 9l, 15 ran.
Prince Of Fire (GER) 16-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, closer 4th 3 out, 3rd approaching 2 out, 2nd at last, challenged run-in, kept on without matching winner, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Kakagh (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 4f chs in Oct.
Groody Hill (IRE) 11-8fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 6th, 2nd travelling best 2 out, led and good jump last, stretched on run-in, comfortably, won at Wexford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 sft in Oct beating Westmeath Bachelor (10-3) by 4l, 6 ran.
Lurgan (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Led, strongly pressed approaching straight, headed before 2 out and soon no extra, weakened, 11th of 14, 38l behind Irish Soul (9-9) at Clonmel 3m hcp hdl sft.
Wicklow Lad 9-1 (11-6) Chased leader in 2nd, led before 4 out, ridden and challenged 2 out, kept on, headed run-in and no extra, 2nd of 15, nk behind Harold's Cross (10-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-109 sft.
Askmeroe (IRE) 13-2 (10-13) Held up towards rear, moderate 11th entering straight, kept on one pace, 9th of 15, 31l behind Harold's Cross (10-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-109 sft.
Cross Appeal (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, dropped to last 4 out, kept on same pace under pressure without threatening approaching last, 3rd of 5, 4l behind First Lieutenant (11-6) at Cork 2m 4f nov chs Grd 3 (1) sft.
Stonemaster (IRE) 15-8 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden entering straight, no impression in 3rd before last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 18, 22l behind Lambro (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f beg chs.
Imperial Shabra (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 6th after 5 out, no extra before next, weakened and tailed off, last of 7, well behind Days Hotel (11-4) at Punchestown 2m nov chs Grade 2 (1) sft.
City of Doral 6-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway into 7th after 5 out, ridden into 4th entering straight, no impression leaders in 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 19, 21l behind Dont Tell De Purty (11-0) at Punchestown 3m 1f am hcp ch 0-102 in Oct.
Knocklayde Euro (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to lead 4 out, ridden and challenged 2 out when fell, in a race won by Leggy Lad (11-3) at Down Royal 2m 6f hcp chs 0-116 sft, 15 ran.
