tracked leaders, hampered 1st, lost place 13th, stayed on from 2 out, unable to get back on terms
tracked leaders, went 2nd from 3rd until before 12th, lost place before 2 out, eased and pulled up before last
held up in rear, 8th and shaken up after 3 out, stayed on well from 2 out, nearest finish
held up towards rear, headway 12th, closed to take 3rd 2 out, challenged last, soon led, driven and stayed on well, edged right towards finish
jumped right at times, pressed leader until 3rd, stayed handy, challenged 12th, led next, driven approaching last, headed flat, wandered under pressure, kept on
held up in mid-division, closed from 12th, pushed along after 3 out, 4th when hit 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
led, jumped right and not fluent 1st, headed 13th, hit 4 out, soon dropped out
towards rear, hit 6th, ridden after 11th, well beaten before 3 out
in touch in mid-division, lost place 12th, well beaten 4 out
mid-division, headway 7th, went 2nd before 4 out, challenged next, lost 2nd and slightly impeded after last, stayed on, held by front pair
mid-division on outside, headway 7th, ridden after 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out
Benefficient beat Dynaste fair and square in a Grade 2 novices' contest over track and trip at last year's Festival and came right back to form in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas when beating Hidden Cyclone. He's a tough campaigner and Tony Martin will have him ready for this. Dynaste was very disappointing in the King George last time and finished a long way behind AL FEROF. The latter clearly didn't get home over 3m at Newbury next time so it's no surprise to see him dropped in distance here and, as a former Festival winner, he gets the nod to come out on top today. Rathlin beat Hidden Cyclone at Galway last summer but was beaten out of sight last time but a fully-fit Menorah would be a threat to all and he makes more appeal than Boston Bob, Hunt Ball and Rajdhani Express, who simply don't look good enough.
Al Ferof (FR) 5-4fav (11-10) Tracked leading trio, went 3rd 11th, went 2nd after 12th (3 out), ridden and beaten on long run to next, 2nd of 5, 25l behind Harry Topper (11-10) at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Benefficient (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, closer order 6 out, 4th before straight, gained narrow lead last, drifted left run-in, stayed on well under pressure, reduced lead but holding on close home, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f chs G1 (1) sft in Dec beating Hidden Cyclone (11-12) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Boston Bob (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Held up in last pair, headway after 3 out, close up next, driven and one pace approaching last, weakened and eased soon after, last of 6, 50l behind Knockara Beau (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Dynaste (FR) 10-3fav (11-10) Mid-division, headway 12th, soon chasing leaders, hit 5 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 47l behind Silviniaco Conti (11-10) at Kempton 3m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec.
Hidden Cyclone (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Led until before 2nd, chased leader, not fluent 8th, joined when not fluent 3 out, chased winner before 2 out, ridden and no chance soon after, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 7, 11l behind Sire De Grugy (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f chs G1 (1) hvy in Jan.
Hunt Ball (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Mid-division, lost place when not fluent 3rd, hit 9th, closed after 11th, outpaced from 4 out, no impression after hung right before 2 out, plugged on into 3rd last, 3rd of 8, 31l behind Captain Chris (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f chs G1 (1) sft in Feb.
Kauto Stone (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Led, not fluent 8th, headed 4 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 8, 37l behind Captain Chris (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f chs G1 (1) sft in Feb.
Medermit (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th, pushed along 12th, struggling 13th, 5th and well held before 2 out, went 4th latter stages, 4th of 8, 35l behind Captain Chris (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f chs G1 (1) sft in Feb.
Menorah (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, mistake 8th, under pressure 5 out, soon no impression, behind when pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Silviniaco Conti (11-10) at Kempton 3m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
Rajdhani Express 8-1 (10-13) In touch, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression, 5th of 20, 9l behind Johns Spirit (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
Rathlin 10-1 (11-10) Held up in 3rd, slight mistake 8th, 4th before 3 out where ridden, kept on one pace, moderate 3rd last, just held 3rd at line, 3rd of 4, 28l behind Arvika Ligeonniere (11-12) at Punchestown 2m chs G2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Cantlow (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Towards rear, fell 10th, in a race won by Holywell (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs, 23 ran.
