Diesel D'Allier won this last year with Plan Of Attack third, Mortal fourth, Back On The Lash fifth and Singing Banjo seventh. The latter was only beaten a short-head by DELTA WORK at Punchestown last month, with Foxy Jacks third, but the winner almost certainly needed that run, his first since a brave third in the Grand National in April. Jack Kennedy’s mount won the Glenfarclas at The Festival here in March, with several of these behind and, though conceding lumps of weight to his rivals, is a class act. The likes of Easysland and Wandrin Star have a lot to prove nowadays and Crealion is 13lb out of the handicap.
Delta Work (FR) 4-6fav (11-9) Prominent, settled in mid-division after 4th, not fluent 17th, pushed along before 3 out, 4th after next, 2nd at last, ridden and led narrowly final 100 yards, stayed on well, all out, won at Punchestown 3m 1f Yielding in Nov beating Singing Banjo (11-9) by shd, 17 ran.
Foxy Jacks (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, ridden and no impression in 11th before 3 out, stayed on to go 5th at last, kept on one pace to go 3rd final 100 yards, never better, 3rd of 17, 6 1/4l behind Delta Work (11-9) at Punchestown 3m 1f Yielding in Nov.
Diesel D'Allier (FR) 12-1 (11-4) In touch, ridden 4 out, 3rd briefly 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 16, 30 1/4l behind Delta Work (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) hvy in Mar.
Plan Of Attack (IRE) 22-1 (11-5) Rear of mid-division, 7th halfway, headway on outer into 3rd early straight, challenging when jumped big 2 out, ridden and no extra before last, 6th of 12, 11 1/4l behind Clifton Warrior (11-7) at Clonmel 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Back On The Lash 9-2 (10-13) Led until 3 out, chased leader until 2 out, where went left, chased leaders, went 2nd again at the last, stayed on run-in, lost 2nd final 100 yards, 3rd of 11, 3 3/4l behind Does He Know (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Easysland (FR) 66-1 (11-11) Led, headed after 1st, ridden 15th, weakened before 4 out, last of 10, dist behind Fontaine Collonges (11-1) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Mortal (IRE) 18-1 (10-0) Chased leader, dropped to rear of mid-division after 4th, 13th after 8th, progress after 4 out, no impression and weakened before last, 8th of 17, dist behind Birchdale (10-0) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Singing Banjo (IRE) 40-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway to track leaders 16th, led 18th, mistake 6 out, joined 3 out, headed next, led again before last, ridden and headed final 100 yards, rallied close home, just failed, 2nd of 17, shd behind Delta Work (11-9) at Punchestown 3m 1f Yielding in Nov.
Wandrin Star (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Midfield, pushed along before 11th, soon outpaced, pulled up before 5 out, at Warwick 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Don Bersy (FR) 150-1 (12-0) Driven to start with rest, midfield 1st, led after 2nd, 5 lengths clear 3rd, reduced advantage 9th, mistake and headed 17th, weakened quickly 18th, pulled up before 4 out, at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gs in Mar.
Crealion (FR) 12-1 (11-3) Made all, challenged 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on strongly run-in, won at Fontainebleau 2m 6f hcp sft in Nov beating Kapking (11-4) by 5l, 13 ran.
