mid-division, headway 5th, ridden when jumped right 3 out, stayed on from last, took 3rd final strides
raced keenly, always prominent, led 11th, headed when stumbled badly on landing 3 out, no impression on winner next, one pace after
held up towards rear, blundered 12th, behind when blundered and unseated rider 15th
prominent, led 4th to 11th, stayed with leader, going well when led 3 out, driven clear after 2 out, stayed on strongly flat
held up and behind, effort into mid-divison 15th, ridden and struggling after 4 out
led, not fluent 1st, blundered 3rd, headed 4th, chased winner after until mistake 11th, losing position when mistakes 13th and 14th, pulled up before next
in rear, not fluent 1st, headway 12th, ridden after 4 out, weakened after 2 out
mistakes, chased leaders, lost place 8th, hampered 9th, behind from 4 out
held up and behind, mistake 5th, ridden 14th, struggling in rear when blundered 15th, tailed off 4 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, struggling and behind 14th
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 12th, ridden 4 out, weakened before next
held up, mistake 12th, no progress
in touch, hampered 9th, lost place 12th, headway under pressure after 4 out, went 2nd before last, stayed on flat but no chance with winner
held up, headway into mid-division 13th, mistake next, never in contention with leaders
chased leaders, mistake 6th, fell 9th
mid-division, headway 15th, ridden and no impression on leaders before 3 out, stayed on one pace from approaching last
mid-division, headway 9th, mistakes 12th and 14th, soon ridden, no real progress from 4 out
Denman's high profile co-owner Harry Findlay has been backing his horse at all odds this season and with this race the plan since day one, his exciting seven-year-old should be supported today, as Cailin Alaiin, Dom D'Orgeval, and Ungaro could just be playing for place money if Paul Nicholls' charge runs his race. Denman's only defeat in his nine race career came at the festival last year however anything he did over hurdles last season was just a prelude to a horse who is every bit a chaser. Whilst not spectacular early on in the season, he has steadily improved for racing and should be raring to go today. Nicholls won this race with Star De Mohaison last year and he holds the ace in the park for a repeat today. Dom D'Orgeval was rated 156 at this best over hurdles and has been impressive in two outings over fences thus far. However, whilst he beat little of note in those contests (long odds-on each occasion), he has improvement to come and certainly can not be ruled out with champion AP McCoy aboard again. Snowy Morning has been a mover in the ante-post market since his convincing victory over Gazza's Girl at Navan and has place claims for his festival-friendly trainer Willie Mullins. The most likely fly in the ointment for backers of Denman could be the mare Cailin Alaiin. She was in the process of running a fine race in the Letheby And Christopher Chase here in January and can not be discarded lightly. She was well in touch and staying on strongly before taking a crashing fall at the third last and would surely have given Exotic Dancer something to think about had she stayed up. Unbeaten in her last six starts in Ireland, she looks the main threat, although Ungaro was mightily impressive in the Feltham at Kempton. He proved he stays this trip that day and along with Denman's stablemate Turko looks a live danger. Ultimately though this has been the plan for Denman for a long time and we will side with him to reward his connection's faith with a deserved win.
According To John (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, hit 10th, ridden after 12th, kept on same pace from 3 out, 4th of 7, 13l behind Gungadu (11-10) at Ascot 3m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Aces Four (IRE) 15-2 (11-8) Prominent, led 3rd, headed approaching last, no extra, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Patsy Hall (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov chs (2) sft in Dec.
Chelsea Harbour (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (11-10) Tracked leaders on inner, 3rd halfway, ridden and outpaced 2 out, left 4th at last, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 9l behind Mister Top Notch (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 5f nov chs Grd 1 (1) hvy in Feb.
Denman (IRE) 1-3fav (11-12) Made all, drew clear from 3 out, won at Newbury 3m nov chs (2) sft in Feb beating Mr Pointment (11-9) by a distance, 3 ran.
Dom d'Orgeval (FR) 2-5fav (11-8) Held up, went remote 2nd 7th, left in lead 10th, stayed on well, won at Hexham 3m 1f nov chs (3) sft in Feb beating L'Antartique (11-8) by 2l, 5 ran.
Eurochancer (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Led and disputed, ridden before 3 out, stayed on well under pressure from last, won at Navan 2m 1f beg chs sft in Nov beating Justpourit (11-12) by 3 1/2l, 18 ran.
Justpourit (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Held up in touch, improved into 2nd after 3 out, 3rd next, soon ridden and no impression, no extra after last, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Young Desperado (11-4) at Navan 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Knowhere (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Raced wide, mistake 4th, always in rear, 8th of 10, 49l behind Whispered Secret (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Jan.
Mossbank (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Held up, slight mistake 7th, in touch when fell 5 out in race won by Cailin Alainn (11-5) at Leopardstown 3m nov chs Grd 1 (1) hvy in Dec, 11 ran.
Openide 16-1 (11-8) Led until 2nd, dropped rear 4th, soon struggling, behind when pulled up at the 14th in race won by Patsy Hall (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov chs (2) sft in Dec, 5 ran.
Patsy Hall (IRE) 5-2 (11-5) Prominent, dropped to 5th entering straight, ridden and no extra from 2 out, 5th of 8, 13l behind Benefit Night (11-8) at Naas 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Royal Rosa (FR) 7-2 (11-10) In touch, pushed along halfway, weakened 5 out, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Heltornic (11-1) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb, 7 ran.
Snowy Morning (IRE) 10-3 (11-5) In touch, improved into 2nd 3 out, mistake 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on well under pressure, won at Navan 3m nov chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb beating Gazza's Girl (11-3) by 4l, 7 ran.
Ungaro (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, headway to track leaders and hit 13th, led 3 out, kept on strongly, driven right out, won at Kempton 3m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec beating Boychuk (11-7) by 10l, 6 ran.
Cailin Alainn (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) In touch, headway to track leaders 16th, 3rd and about 2 lengths down and every chance when fell 3 out in race won by Exotic Dancer (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan, 9 ran.
Gazza's Girl (IRE) 6-4fav (11-3) Soon 3rd, led travelling well before 3 out, strongly pressed next, headed approaching last, kept on, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Snowy Morning (11-5) at Navan 3m nov chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Turko (FR) 10-11fav (11-3) Made all, hit 4th, left well clear 10th, unchallenged after, won at Fontwell 2m 4f nov chs (3) sft in Feb beating Phar Bleu (11-3) by a distance, 5 ran.
