held up in last trio, not fluent 12th, headway 4 out, went 3rd next, challenged 2 out, every chance last, ridden and kept on until no extra final 110 yards, lost 2nd near finish
tracked leader, lost place 3 out, soon ridden and outpaced, 6 lengths down in 4th last, stayed on strongly flat, went 2nd near finish, no impression with winner
led, pecked 4 out, driven and headed 2 out, no extra before last
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 3 out, led next, hard pressed last, ridden and stayed on well flat
held up in last trio, dropped to rear 6th, reminders 15th, outpaced next, no danger after
mistakes early, held up in last trio, blundered 6th and 8th, outpaced 4 out, weakened from 2 out
Shakalakaboomboom has his first run since landing a valuable handicap at Punchestown in May and hasn't impressed over these stiff fences in the past. He may be worth opposing but Mon Parrain has to go on the short-list, despite dropping away tamely when a leading fancy for the Paddy Power Gold Cup over a shorter trip here last month. He won by 22 lengths over 3m1f on his UK debut at Sandown in April. Fair Along is arguably better over hurdles but was an excellent third in the Hennessy last time off this mark and will take no prisoners, while Swincombe Rock is better than he showed in the Paddy Power. But KNOCKARA BEAU could be the value in this as he seems to like Cheltenham and is back over fences on a potentially lenient mark after a spell hurdling.
Mon Parrain (FR) 9-2 (10-8) Held up in touch, hampered 9th, lost place and pushed along when hampered 11th, well beaten after 4 out, 7th of 20, 33l behind Great Endeavour (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Nov.
Knockara Beau (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, driven and lost place before 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 20, 42l behind Dynaste (10-13) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Fair Along (GER) 33-1 (10-0) Led into start, narrow lead until jumped slowly 1st, soon in rear, blundered 14th, headway 4 out, ran on flat, went 3rd towards finish, going on close home, 3rd of 18, 4 1/2l behind Carruthers (10-4) at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
Shakalakaboomboom (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Always prominent, 2nd halfway, disputed from 6 out, led 3 out, driven along from next, 1 length advantage when blundered last, soon joined, kept on under pressure, led on line, won at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 in May beating Beautiful Sound (10-11) by shd, 24 ran.
Swincombe Rock 40-1 (10-0) Held up, ridden and struggling from 8th, well behind 4 out, 14th of 20, well behind Great Endeavour (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Nov.
Mostly Bob (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, mistake 10th, lost place 5 out, no danger after, 5th of 10, 33l behind Cappa Bleu (11-11) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
