chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next, behind when pulled up after last
mid-division, tracked leaders 18th, led 25th, ridden and headed between last 2, no extra from last
tracked leader, lost place before 5 out, weakened from 3 out
held up towards rear, hit 4th and 10th, headway 18th, close up 27th, chased leader 3 out to before next, soon outpaced, ridden and stayed on under pressure flat, no impression
led, headed 25th, chased leaders, lost place 5 out, soon outpaced, ridden and kept on under pressure from last
mid-division, headway 27th, tracked leaders 5 out, went 2nd before last, soon ridden, kept on, no impression with winner
in touch, hit 10th, chased leader 5 out to 3 out, ridden before last, kept on under pressure in 3rd from last, no impression
mid-division, chased leaders 5 out, led between last 2, clear last, ridden out flat
behind, headway 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, ridden and outpaced between last 2, weakened last
tracked leaders until blundered and unseated rider 16th
behind, headway into mid-division 20th, struggling 27th, soon behind
always behind, weakened and pulled up before 26th
mid-division, dropped towards rear 18th, no danger after, weakened before last, tailed off
tracked leaders, lost place 21st, behind from 3 out
mid-division, fell 16th
tracked leaders, lost place when mistake 27th, soon behind
Enda Bolger reasserted his dominance of this cross-country event last year through Josies Orders. Bless The Wings, Quantitativeeasing, Third Intention, Ballyboker Bridge and Valadom filled the next five places with Cantlow finishing 10th of the 11 finishers. The latter may be the pick of Bolger’s four runners today, however, as he’s already beaten Bless The Wings and Ballyboker Bridge this season and was ahead of Any Currency, Valadom, Cause Of Causes and Alelchi Inois when second over track and trip in January. But Auvergnat was going well that day when unseating his rider and has since beaten Usuel Smurfer at Punchestown, though this longer trip could see the runner-up get much closer. This will be a new experience for SAUSALITO SUNRISE but, a course winner over regulation fences, he would probably be favourite were this being run over conventional obstacles. Philip Hobbs trained Balthazar King to win this twice so knows what’s required and Richard Johnson’s presence in the saddle suggests connections mean business.
Alelchi Inois (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, modest 6th 25th, jumped left and bumped rival 27th, soon well behind, 7th of 10, dist behind Urgent De Gregaine (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Amazing Comedy (FR) (11-0) won at Pau 3m 1f sft in Feb beating La Baghera (11-0) by 5l, 7 ran.
Any Currency (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 24th, 2nd 27th until 4 out, 3rd and no extra from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 24l behind Urgent De Gregaine (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Auvergnat (FR) 9-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, 3rd 5 out, pushed along in 3rd 3 out, improved to dispute lead after 2 out, ridden to lead before last, edged left under pressure run-in, stayed on well, won at Punchestown 3m sft in Feb beating Usuel Smurfer (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Ballyboker Bridge (IRE) 10-3 (12-0) Led, joined 5 out, ridden and headed 3 out, disputed lead again and ridden after 2 out, headed entering straight, soon no impression in 3rd, 3rd of 14, 16 1/2l behind Auvergnat (11-4) at Punchestown 3m sft in Feb.
Bless The Wings (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) 8th of 18, 23 1/2l behind Champagne West (11-7) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Cantlow (IRE) 11-8fav (11-4) Tracked leader, led 16th, headed next, pecked 21st, led 23rd, carried right by loose horse after 27th, driven before last, headed flat, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 10, 3l behind Urgent De Gregaine (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Cause Of Causes (USA) 6-1 (11-6) Always behind, 5th of 10, dist behind Urgent De Gregaine (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Colour Squadron (IRE) 7-4fav (11-11) Tracked leader in 2nd, mistake 7 out, improved to dispute lead 5 out, led 3 out, slow jump 2 out and soon ridden and headed, no impression in 4th before last, 4th of 14, 21l behind Auvergnat (11-4) at Punchestown 3m sft in Feb.
First Lieutenant (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, 9th halfway, no impression from 5 out, never a factor, 6th of 14, 32 1/2l behind Auvergnat (11-4) at Punchestown 3m sft in Feb.
Kingswell Theatre 20-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, led narrowly and hit 8th, headed 10th, led again 12th, made rest, ridden before 3 out, stayed on gamely, all out, won at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) gs in Feb beating Millicent Silver (10-10) by nk, 14 ran.
Quantitativeeasing (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Rear of mid-division, never a factor, dropped towards rear halfway, detached after 8th, weakened, completely tailed off, last of 19, dist behind Scoir Mear (10-11) at Galway 2m 6f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Sausalito Sunrise (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Held up in chasing group, closer in 4th 11th, 3rd 15th, driven along and no impression from 3 out, 3rd of 7, 36l behind Tenor Nivernais (11-7) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Feb.
Third Intention (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Prominent until 2nd, tracked leaders, pushed along after 4th, lost touch after 6th, went very remote 4th before 2 out, 4th of 7, dist behind Camping Ground (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 3f (1) gs in Feb.
Usuel Smurfer (FR) 11-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, 4th 5 out, headway into closer 4th 2 out, ridden in 2nd entering straight, strongly pressed winner run-in, kept on under pressure close home, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Auvergnat (11-4) at Punchestown 3m sft in Feb.
Valadom (FR) 8-1 (10-5) Led, not fluent 8th, headed 16th, led next, headed 23rd, mistake 27th, no extra 3 out, 4th of 10, 26 3/4l behind Urgent De Gregaine (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
