tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th until 12th, chased leaders, weakened next, losing touch when blundered 4 out, jumped right after, tailed off and pulled up before last
went right 1st, chased winner until 6th, stayed chasing leaders, unseated rider 10th
held up in last pair, not fluent and reminders 7th (water), slightly hampered 10th, good progress to track winner 12th until next, driven before 4 out, outpaced next, plugged on again flat, no threat
tracked leaders, went 2nd 13th, challenged 4 out, upsides and every chance next, no extra and held before last
made virtually all, bruched 5th, not fluent 8th, mistake 12th, hit 4 out, joined next, driven and stayed on to go clear and assert before last, eased in closing stages
held up in rear, steady progress 12th, 4th from 13th, went 3rd 4 out, no impression when mistake 2 out, mistake last, stayed on same pace flat
Nonrunner
Glen Countess will have to defy a new career-high mark if she's to complete her hat-trick and she's upped in grade here. Ballylifen is a trifle exposed now but should be thereabouts again without being quite good enough to win. Castle Conflict has been raised 9lb for winning at Bangor but Jake Greenall takes off 3lb and he'll probably be staying on here. SAROQUE really attacked his fences at Ffos Las and was unlucky to be overhauled after the last. That was his chasing debut so he should know more today and could be another winner for an in-form yard.
Castle Conflict (IRE) 9-4fav (11-1) Always prominent, not fluent 2nd, led after 4th, headed after 6th, led again before 3 out, driven clear after next, idled close home, comfortably (6 fences omitted), won at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov beating Gwladys Street (10-10) by 5l, 5 ran.
De Blacksmith (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 8th until before 3 out, soon 4th and beaten, weakened flat, 4th of 5, 15l behind Toby Lerone (11-3) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Nov.
Ballylifen (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, reminders after 7th, headway under pressure before 4 out, went 4th next, chased leading pair well before 2 out, one pace and no chance, 3rd of 10, 12l behind Kris Cross (10-3) at Ascot 3m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Glen Countess (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well, eased towards finish, won at Bangor 2m 4f (4) gs beating Overnight Fame (10-6) by 5l, 8 ran.
Saroque (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Made most, not fluent 9th, ridden after 3 out (usual 4 out), 3 lengths clear when not fluent 2 out, kept on until headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Cruising Bye (10-8) at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy.
Ultimatum Du Roy (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, challenged 13th, upsides when blundered and lost place 4 out, not recover, no impression in 4th before 2 out, 4th of 9, 12l behind Bobcatbilly (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
Billy Dutton 12-1 (11-1) Held up, headway approaching 5th, outpaced from 7th, went 3rd after 3 out, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 8, 30l behind Valdez (11-1) at Exeter 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
