in rear, mistake 1st, jumped slowly 3rd and pushed along briefly, mistake when in still in touch 3 out, soon outpaced, no impression after
held up in last trio, took keen hold, pecked 6th, headway on outside to track leaders 3 out, outpaced before home bend, no impression when fell 2 out
prominent, led 3rd, clear when reached at last and mistake, stayed on well, comfortably
tracked leaders, outpaced in 4th and beaten when slightly hampered 2 out, stayed on to take 3rd final 75 yards, no chance with winner
led until 3rd, tracked winner until before 3 out, unable to quicken when hampered and left 2nd 2 out, no impression, stayed on
held up in last trio, pecked 2nd, headway 3 out, left 3rd when bumped 2 out, mistake last, weakened and dropped to 4th inside final 100 yards
tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, ridden and 1 1/2 lengths off winner when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
DOUVAN has frightened away most of the opposition and looks one of The Festival's bankers, though will be a very short price. He's yet to taste defeat since joining Ireland's champion trainer and there has been a largely smooth transition to fences. Last year's Supreme Novices' winner beat Sizing John by 18 lengths at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day and there seems little chance of the latter reversing that form. Vaniteux hasn't done much wrong over the larger obstacles so far and looks best of the home team, though his overall form doesn't match that of the selection. The Game Changer has won six of his eight starts over fences but really needs good ground or better and hasn't raced since October. Barring accidents, it will be a surprise if any of the remainder will be good enough.
Aso (FR) 4-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, not fluent and lost a bit of ground on rivals 10th, never on terms after, stayed on same pace form 3 out, closed on 2nd last, 3rd of 4, 10 1/4l behind Josses Hill (11-0) at Kempton 2m 4f (2) sft in Feb.
Baltimore Rock (IRE) 6-5fav (11-4) Held up in rear, headway to track front pair before 5 out, not fluent next, challenged after 3 out, every chance last, ridden and one pace flat, well held towards finish, 2nd of 5, 3 1/4l behind Oscar Sunset (10-12) at Chepstow 2m (4) hvy in Feb.
Douvan (FR) 1-14fav (11-12) Made all, eased clear after last, not extended, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan beating Velvet Maker (11-12) by 15l, 3 ran.
Fox Norton (FR) 13-2 (11-4) Tracked winner until 7th, weakened 4 out, jumped slowly next, last of 3, 20l behind Violet Dancer (11-4) at Warwick 2m (1) sft in Feb.
Sizing John 5-1 (11-12) Disputed lead early, soon raced in 3rd, slight mistake 5th and pushed along briefly, 2nd from 8th, ridden approaching straight, soon one pace, 2nd of 4, 18l behind Douvan (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) hvy in Dec.
The Game Changer (IRE) Evensfav (11-10) Tracked leaders, soon 3rd, closed 4 out, challenged between horses travelling smoothly from 2 out, on terms from before last, soon led, ridden to quickly assert, stayed on well, easily, won at Punchestown 2m 2f gd in Oct beating Sizing Platinum (11-5) by 3l, 4 ran.
Vaniteux (FR) 6-4 (11-0) Tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on well towards finish, won at Doncaster 2m (1) gd in Jan beating Arzal (11-4) by 3 1/4l, 5 ran.
