made all, went clear 7th, reduced lead 10th, hit 13th, came clear again before 3 out, not fluent last, stayed on strongly, unchallenged
chased leaders, jumped slowly and lost place 7th, towards rear and never on terms after, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased winner until 5th, chased leaders in 3rd, pushed along and one pace before 3 out
always rear-division, never involved
pulled hard, soon steadied towards rear, closer and pushed along in well held 4th after 13th, weakened before hit 3 out, mistake next
held up in rear, pushed along and struggling when hung right and reminders after 13th, tailed off
rear-division, never on terms
tracked leaders on inside, tracked clear winner 5th, closer at 10th, pushed along and readily held before 3 out, no chance with winner
chased leaders, outpaced after 13th, plugged on in 4th before next
A regular in the Foxhunter at Cheltenham, CAID DU BERLAIS isn’t quite up to that class but he’s twice won the Champion Hunter Chase at Punchestown and will take all the beating in this if fully wound-up. Eric The Third, a past course and distance winner, could go well at a price if the ground continues to dry out. Capitaine was a useful hurdler when trained by Paul Nicholls and Dashing Perk is back over his best trip after pulling up over 3m in a handicap at Doncaster. Conrad Hastings had decent form in Ireland when trained by Henry De Bromhead but will likely need this.
Caid Du Berlais (FR) 8-1 (12-0) Chased leaders on inside, lost place 15th, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gs in Mar.
Conrad Hastings (IRE) 13-8fav (11-2) Settled 3rd, 4th at 3rd, took closer order at 5th, under pressure after 2 out, weakened in 5th approaching home bend, 5th of 6, 26 3/4l behind Westland Row (11-2) at Kilbeggan 2m 4f Yielding in Aug.
Dashing Perk 16-5 (11-12) Led narrowly, headed 2nd, losing ground when hit 14th, ridden before 4 out, tailed off before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Doc Carver (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) (tt) stdy hdwy 9; ev ch 3 out; wknd app last, 3rd of 13, 10l behind Chase Me (12-0) at Chaddesley Corbett 3m sft in Dec.
Capitaine (FR) 5-1 (12-0) Hdwy 7; wknd qckly 2 out, 7th of 13, 26 1/2l behind Salvatore (12-0) at Larkhill 3m gd in Dec.
Dr Rhythm (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) Lost plce 7; hdwy 13; led 15; hdd nxt; chsd wnr 2 out; r.o, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Undisputed (11-10) at Badbury Rings 3m sft in Feb.
Eric The Third (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Chsd wnr 12; outpcd 3 out, 4th of 9, 16 1/4l behind Back Bar (11-0) at Wadebridge 3m gs in Dec.
Golden Tobouggan (12-0) Led 3-6; led 2 out; held on wl flat, won at Maisemore Park 3m gs in Oct beating Silent Man (12-0) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Tom Barton 12-1 (11-0) (cp) short-lived eff 12; wknd 15; t.o, 7th of 10, dist behind Miss Seagreen (10-7) at Larkhill 3m gd in Dec.
