held up mid-division, steady headway 3 out, challenged approaching last, ridden to lead flat, kept on
behind, mistake 13th, blundered and unseated rider 15th
in rear, hit 27th, headway 3 out, effort when not fluent last, ridden and kept on flat
held up behind when collided with wing and pulled up 15th
close up when not much room and ran out 15th
mid-division, driven and headway 2 out, chased leaders approaching last, ridden and kept on flat
mid-division, dropped rear 15th, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
led to 19th, led again next, headed 3 out, ridden and stayed on to lead again when pecked next, headed last, no extra flat
always prominent, ridden 2 out, led last, headed flat, kept on
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, weakened from next
tracked leaders, went 2nd 25th, led 3 out to next, ridden and kept on same pace flat
tracked leaders, pecked 4th, led 19th to next, lost place 25th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
in touch when slipped and unseated rider after 15th
tracked leaders, blundered 4th, close up 3rd when not much room, ran out 15th
in touch, blundered 21st, ridden and outpaced 26, hit next, weakened 3 out
mistakes, held up in rear when hampered badly, pulled up 15th
With J T McNamara unable to do the weight to ride Heads Onthe Ground, Enda Bolger has given him the plum ride on the leading cross country runner at the present GARDE CHAMPETRE, who can gain his fifth course success with the main danger rated as Sizing Australia. Henry De Bromhead's gelding ran a cracker when two lengths behind Garde Champetre over course and distance last month and is slightly better in at the weights today so he has every chance of reversing the form but Enda Bolger's gelding was probably value for more than the winning margin and goes so well here that he is hard to oppose. The 2007 Grand National winner Silver Birch has run well in two cross country races but has been beaten behind the selection in both of them and is likely to be placed at best, while Maljimar has struggled against the handicapper of late over regulation fences and may be worth trying over this circuit. A market move for Royal County Star would be of interest, while Mr Big has run well in both starts since disappointing in the Velka Pardubicka but would probably prefer faster ground. Heads Onthe Ground is not without a chance under Nina Carberry but her usual mount Garde Champetre should again take the honours at a track where he has a fine record.
Garde Champetre (FR) 4-6fav (11-8) Soon settled back into mid-division, hit 27th, headway 4 out, led last, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (2) gs in Nov beating Heads Onthe Ground (10-10) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Royal County Star (IRE) 15-8fav (11-6) Held up in rear, mistake 6 out, ridden from 4 out, moderate 4th next, no extra in 5th when slight mistake 2 out, last of 6, 16l behind Casey Jones (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f chs Grade 3 in Oct.
Maljimar (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Behind, hit 10th and 17th, making headway under pressure when hit 2 out, weakened soon after, 5th of 12, 12l behind Galant Nuit (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov.
Cornish Sett (IRE) 18-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, lost place halfway, soon behind, pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Ellerslie George (10-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov, 18 ran.
Silver Birch (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Chased leaders, hit 16th, blundered 27th, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 12, 16l behind Garde Champetre (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (2) gs in Nov.
Freneys Well 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, moderate 7th approaching 3 out, no impression and kept on same pace in straight, 6th of 11, 38l behind Dunguib (11-9) at Punchestown 2m hdl hvy in Nov.
A New Story (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Always behind, 10th of 21, well behind Beroni (10-7) at Navan 3m hcp chs 0-150 hvy in Nov.
Heads Onthe Ground (IRE) 18-1 (10-10) Led, ridden and headed last, no impression on winner, stayed on under pressure flat, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Garde Champetre (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (2) gs in Nov.
Sizing Australia (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Prominent, hit 27th, chased leader 3 out, soon every chance, relegated to 3rd last, stayed on under pressure flat, no impression on winner, just failed to get 2nd, 3rd of 12, 2l behind Garde Champetre (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (2) gs in Nov.
Pak Jack (FR) 10-1 (10-13) Held up, left 2nd 14th, ridden before elbow, stayed on and not much room on inside flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Dev (10-7) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) sft in Nov.
Double Dizzy 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leading pair, ridden 4 out, outpaced approaching 2 out, 4th of 8, 13l behind Psychomodo (11-12) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Mr Big (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Tracked winner early, soon in touch, chased winner 2 out, kept on well, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Enroblim Trop (11-3) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Nov.
King Harald (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Led to 2nd, chased leaders, reminders 4th, steadily lost place after, struggling when blundered 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Lyes Green (10-11) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Soleil Fix (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, jumped slowly and dropped rear 13th, behind from 23rd, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Garde Champetre (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (2) gs in Nov.
Rimsky (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, not fluent 14th, mistake 18th, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 12, 21l behind Garde Champetre (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (2) gs in Nov.
Osolomio (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 5th of 10, 14l behind That's Rhythm (11-8) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
