in touch until slightly lost place and dropped towards rear 25th, progress before 4 out, tracked leading pair before 2 out, chased leader before last, drew upsides and every chance after last, found no extra and held final 150 yards
in touch, ridden towards rear 12th, headway and in touch 21st, mistake and weakened 27th
close up until outpaced 27th, stayed on again after 4 out, never going pace to trouble leading trio
chased leader until 8th, prominent, led 13th until before 17th, stayed close up until weakened after 3 out
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 8th, led 18th, until 22nd, chased winner until before last, weakened flat
held up in rear, mistakes 13th and 21st, never in contention
held up in rear, headway 26th, weakened after 4out
never travelling or jumping in rear, reminders before 7th, blundered 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 16th
made most until headed before 17th, stayed front rank until weakened 5 out, tailed off
aways front rank, chased leading pair 21st, led next, strongly pressed from last, stayed on very gamely to assert final 150 yards
Nonrunner
GARDE CHAMPETRE has won five times in eight tries over course and distance, including this race last year, and looks primed to go in again. Enda Bolger's charge is a real cross-country specialist and he had a nice spin over hurdles at Galway to tee him up for this so, providing the ground doesn't get too fast, he's going to be very hard to beat. Joe Lively has been described as 'a certainty' to take to these fences and if he does this likeable 11-year-old should be competitive, although the combination of a 216-day absence and lack of a look around means he's probably opposable on this occasion. Flintoff was schooled over the obstacles on Thursday and apparently took to them well but he's winless since 2007 and prefers a bit of cut in the ground, so the race-fit Lacdoudal can be expected to fare better having finished ahead of Garde Champetre here in the spring. Sizing Australia was third in this last year and arrives in top shape so expect a big run from him, but the favourite can score.
Garde Champetre (FR) 10-1 (11-3) Mid-division early, 6th halfway, ridden in 7th and no extra before 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 12, 11l behind Rock County (10-12) at Galway 2m hcp hdl gd in Oct.
Joe Lively (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) In touch, lost place 18th, no danger after, 10th of 40, 50l behind Don't Push It (11-5) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
Freneys Well 25-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, 11th of 13, 45l behind One Cool Tornado (11-7) at Listowel 2m 4f nh nov hdl gd in Sep.
Mr Big (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) 13th of 19, ns behind Tiumen (10-9) at Pardubice(CZE) 4m 2f crs cntry chs (5yo+) gd in Oct.
Sizing Australia (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Always prominent, in front 6 out, closely pressed from 4 out, disputed lead 2 out, led and stayed on best from last, won at Thurles 2m 6f beg chs gd in Oct beating Your Busy (11-12) by 3/4l, 15 ran.
Lucky Luk (FR) 20-1 (10-7) Towards rear, headway into mid-division halfway, outpaced 3 out, kept on same pace from next, never on terms, 5th of 18, 14l behind Quattrocento (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Changing Course (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Attempted to make all, jumped well, headed after 3 out, soon weakened quickly, dropped to remote 5th from last, 5th of 8, 38l behind Leanne (11-7) at Clonmel 2m 4f Chase (4yo+) in Oct.
Flintoff (USA) 50-1 (10-5) Always in rear, tailed off when pulled up 21st, in a race won by Don't Push It (11-5) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 40 ran.
Heads Onthe Ground (IRE) 7-2 (12-0) Alw in tch, prog 3out, eff aftr 2out, not get on terms but rallied late, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Zemsky (12-0) at Loughrea 3m ire ptp gd in Oct.
Lacdoudal (FR) 8-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, driven 15th, switched outside and effort after 3 out, soon ridden, went 5 lengths 2nd last, kept on same pace flat, no impression with winner, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Midnight Chase (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Oct.
Pass Me By (10-10) in a race won by Another Jewel (10-10) at Le Lion D'angers(FR) 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) slp in May, 12 ran.
