held, blundered badly 2nd, towards rear after, well beaten before 3 out, plugged on from last, never any chance
held up in rear, mistake when struggling 11th, well behind next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, pecked 12th, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, not much room, hampered and mistake 2 out, lost further ground on rivals, rallied flat, went 3rd final 150 yards, stayed on
prominent, not fluent 4th, ridden before 12th, lost place soon after, weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, ridden and effort on outside approaching 2 out, just 3rd when hit last, no impression flat, kept on same pace
mid-division, not fluent and lost place 8th, driven along 10th, well beaten 4 out
tracked winner, not fluent 3rd, mistake 6th, lost 2nd after 3 out, edged left before 2 out, weakened last
held up, headway from 9th, hit 4 out, ridden and edged right approaching 2 out, no extra final 100 yards
held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, mistake 10th, headway when mistake 4 out, no impression after, mistake 3 out, well beaten after
chased leaders on inside, lost place before 4th, well beaten 4 out
made all, clear 8th until 4 out, jumped left and hit wing next, shaken up and found more to go 3 lengths clear last, ridden flat, ran on well
held up, always towards rear, well behind 12th, pulled up before 4 out
held up in mid-division on outside, mistake 12th, modest headway 3 out, no impression and soon well beaten
mid-division, headway 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, driven before last, stayed on flat, no impression on winner final 100 yards
Balder Success jumped well in the main when beating Ma Filleule and Ballycasey in the Ascot Chase last month but has yet to complete in three previous visits to Cheltenham and is generally better in small fields. Don Cossack is the big Irish hope having won his last four. He won a Grade 1 on good going at Leopardstown in December and may still be improving, though took a heavy fall in the RSA Chase here last year and this is a race in which those that have gone well at the course previously thrive. Taquin Du Seuil, Uxizandre and Double Ross fought out the finish of the JLT Chase on this card 12 months ago with Wonderful Charm back in fifth. None of that quartet can be ruled out, though all have been a bit disappointing this campaign. Taquin Du Seuil's stablemate JOHNS SPIRIT (NAP) is preferred, therefore, given he's a real Cheltenham specialist racing back over his best trip. The King George has proved a surprising useful guide for this in the past and Richie McLernon's mount ran well in the Kempton showpiece until his stamina ran out. He still finished ahead of Wonderful Charm and Wishfull Thinking failed to finish. Eduard has never really realised his potential but last year's runner-up Hidden Cyclone is a danger if back to his best.
Balder Succes (FR) 4-1 (11-7) Jumped well, held up in touch, left close 4th at 9th, went 2nd 13th, led 4 out, shaken up and clear before last, kept on strongly, ridden out, won at Ascot 2m 5f chs G1 (1) sft in Feb beating Ma Filleule (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Ballycasey (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 5th, hit 13th and lost 2nd, lost 3rd 4 out, no impression when went right 3 out and went modest 3rd soon after, 3rd of 5, 27l behind Balder Succes (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f chs G1 (1) sft in Feb.
Don Cossack (GER) 6-4 (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, slight mistake 2 out, ridden to challenge and left clear last, kept on well, won at Thurles 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (1) in Jan beating Texas Jack (11-8) by 44l, 4 ran.
Double Ross (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, jumped right 5th, driven along before 4 out, weakened soon after 4 out, last of 6, 26l behind Coneygree (11-5) at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Eduard (IRE) 7-4fav (11-5) Tracked leaders in 4th, 2nd before 10th, hit 12th, challenged and went left 2 out, led before went left and hit last, soon headed, kept on under pressure to hold 2nd run-in, no impression on battling winner, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Wishfull Thinking (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Foxrock (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along after 3 out, progress in 2nd entering straight and led last, headed over 100 yards out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Carlingford Lough (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m chs G1 (1) in Feb.
Hidden Cyclone (IRE) 6-5fav (11-4) Made all, drew clear approaching last, kept on well, comfortably, won at Punchestown 2m chs G2 (1) sft in Feb beating Bright New Dawn (11-10) by 5l, 6 ran.
Johns Spirit (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway 5out, effort when mistake 3out, soon beaten, 6th of 10, 17l behind Silviniaco Conti (11-10) at Kempton 3m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Taquin Du Seuil (FR) 9-2 (11-5) Took keen hold, held up in rear, closer order 8th (water), not fluent 12th and 14th, stayed on into 3rd approaching 4 out, driven one pace and no impression before 2 out, weakened into 4th at the last, 4th of 6, 15l behind Coneygree (11-5) at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Third Intention (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Led, headed 4 out, driven before next, upsides 2 out, regained narrow lead between last 2, ridden flat, held on well, won at Kempton 2m 4f grd chs (5yo+) (2) gs in Feb beating Josses Hill (10-10) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
Uxizandre (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Tended to jump left, tracked leader, led 2nd, went left and headed 4 out, dropped to 3rd before left modest 2nd and went left 3 out and next, hanging left and no chance when went badly left again blundered and unseated rider last, in a race won by Mr Mole (11-6) at Newbury 2m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb, 5 ran.
Wishfull Thinking 20-1 (11-10) Behind, struggling halfway, pulled up, in a race won by Silviniaco Conti (11-10) at Kempton 3m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Wonderful Charm (FR) 33-1 (11-10) Towards rear, pushed along 10th, out paced 5out, 7th of 10, 32l behind Silviniaco Conti (11-10) at Kempton 3m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Ma Filleule (FR) 4-1 (11-0) Chased leaders on outside, left close 3rd 9th, 2nd after 3 out, one pace and no impression approaching 2 out, well clear of rest, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Balder Succes (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f chs G1 (1) sft in Feb.
