held up behind, headway into mid-division halfway, never reached leaders, weakened 2 out, tailed off
chased leaders, dropped to mid-division 21st, weakened 24th, tailed off 6 out
tracked leaders, blundered 17th, lost place 23rd, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 26th
tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on to dispute modest 2nd when not much room last, no extra flat
never better than mid-division, behind from 19th, lost touch 22nd, pulled up before next
always behind, lost touch halfway, pulled up before 17th
tracked leader to 22nd, in touch, lost place 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off
mid-division, driven to chase clear leaders before 2 out, never a threat, weakened flat
in touch, pushed along after 25th, ridden after 4 out, stayed on to take modest 2nd flat, no chance with impressive winner
led to after 4 out, no chance with winner from next, lost place before 2 out, weakened before last
held up behind, headway into mid-division when mistake and unseated rider 21st
mid-division, took closer order 7th, went 2nd at 22nd, led after 4 out, drew easily clear from next, in no danger after, impressive
mid-division, lost place and behind from 23rd, tailed off when pulled up before 26th
held up behind, headway 25th, soon tracked leaders, chased clear and impressive winner before 2 out, never a threat, lost 2nd flat
never better than mid-division, behind and struggling after 21st, tailed off 6 out
NonRunner
TIGER ROLL is bidding for a fourth Festival success and will be another short-priced favourite. He beat Urgent De Gregaine and several of these in this last year en route to his Grand National triumph and has been lightly campaigned this season, giving away lumps of weight when fourth to Josies Orders, Fact Of The Matter and Jarob over track and trip in November before astounding everyone when running away with a Grade 2 hurdle at Navan last month which was supposed to be a warm-up. Josies Orders, who holds Hurricane Darwin on Punchestown cross-country form, and Fact Of The Matter, are likely to be thereabouts again but this will be a new experience for Aintree specialist Ultragold, who is targeting next month’s big race on Merseyside. Tea For Two has run in the last two Gold Cups but doesn’t look the force of old and Kingswell Theatre would have been more interesting were he not returning from a lengthy absence.
Amazing Comedy (FR) (10-7) at Pau 3m 1f in Jan.
Aubusson (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Towards rear, some headway into mid-division 17th, never near leaders, weakened after 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, at Kelso 4m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Auvergnat (FR) 28-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, 5th after 7th, slight mistake 9th, travelling smoothly and led approaching last, asserted and stayed on well run-in where rider dropped whip, eased close home, won at Leopardstown 3m gd in Dec beating Vieux Morvan (10-11) by 6 1/2l, 27 ran.
Ballycasey (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Prominent early, slight mistake 4th, mistake 12th, dropped to mid-division and mistake at 14th, weakened from 20th, 11th of 16, dist behind Josies Orders (12-0) at Punchestown 3m 1f gd in Feb.
Bless The Wings (IRE) 66-1 (11-3) Ran 3rd, mistake 7th and soon dropped to rear, pushed along early straight and no extra before 2 out, last of 6, 27 1/4l behind Tiger Roll (11-3) at Navan 2m 5f (1) Yielding in Feb.
Devils Bride (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Mid-division, moderate 8th 7 out, no impression from 4 out, 9th of 16, dist behind Josies Orders (12-0) at Punchestown 3m 1f gd in Feb.
Fact Of The Matter (IRE) 6-1 (10-10) Mid-division, closed 5th, went 2nd before 3 out, challenged next, edged left and driven flat, led towards finish, won at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gd in Dec beating My Hometown (10-1) by nk, 11 ran.
Jarob 66-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders in 3rd, dropped to 4th 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, last of 5, 7 1/4l behind Espoir D'Allen (11-8) at Naas 2m (1) Yielding in Jan.
Josies Orders (IRE) 5-4fav (12-0) Always prominent, improved to dispute lead 7 out, headed 3 out, ridden to lead after 2 out, stayed on well under pressure run-in, won at Punchestown 3m 1f gd in Feb beating Hurricane Darwin (11-11) by 2l, 16 ran.
Kingswell Theatre 4-1 (10-11) Led until 2nd, prominent, every chance 3 out, 4th and beaten last, one pace, 4th of 9, 9l behind Bless The Wings (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Tea For Two 7-2 (10-12) Held up in rear, slow 5th, took closer order 14th, driven after next, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out, at Taunton 3m 4f (2) gs in Jan.
Tiger Roll (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway approaching straight and travelled well to lead after 3 out, asserted after 2 out and stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Navan 2m 5f (1) Yielding in Feb beating Off You Go (11-3) by 4l, 6 ran.
Ultragold (FR) 25-1 (11-2) Chasing leaders after 2nd, jumped right 5th, outpaced after 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 12, 14 3/4l behind Impulsive Star (10-1) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Jan.
Urgent De Gregaine (FR) (9-13) at Auteuil 2m 7f Grp 3 hcp (1) gs in Oct.
Vyta Du Roc (FR) 33-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 3rd, lost place after 6th, well beaten 17th, pulled up before 5 out, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Hurricane Darwin (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Mid-division, 7th 7 out, went closer 5th 3 out, 3rd and slight mistake 2 out, soon pushed along, went 2nd and ridden at last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 16, 2l behind Josies Orders (12-0) at Punchestown 3m 1f gd in Feb.
