held up, in mid-division by 6th, ridden after 14th, not fluent and struggling next, well beaten 16th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, in touch 9th, went 3rd after 4 out until jumped right next, one pace and no impression before next
held up towards rear, headway when mistake 12th, struggling 15th, mistake 17th, soon well beaten
tracked leaders, hit 8th, went 3rd soon after 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, no chance with winner
mid-division, in touch 9th, disputing 6th and outpaced when mistake and unseated rider 4 out
held up towards rear, hit 8th, ridden after 13th, behind 15th, tailed off
held up towards rear, struggling 15th, tailed off
held up in rear, ridden 14th, well behind next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
prominent, led 3rd, clear 15th, hit 4 out, reduced advantage next, soon headed, 3rd and beaten 2 out, one pace
always in rear, well behind 15th, pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, not always fluent, well behind 15th, tailed off
tracked leaders, went prominent 9th, went 2nd next, leader went clear 15th, closed 3 out, soon led, ridden clear approaching 2 out, stayed on well
prominent, took keen hold, ridden after 14th, weakened after 17th, tailed off
prominent, ridden and lost place after 15th, soon behind, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden after 14th, struggling from next, well beaten 17th
mid-division, lost place when mistake 7th, rear when not fluent 10th, behind 15th, some late progress, never any chance
mid-division, hit 12th, 7th and outpaced after 4 out, stayed on approaching 2 out, went 5th last, no impression
mid-division, pecked 1st, headway to track leaders 15th, ridden 4 out, went 4th 2 out, stayed on same pace
held up in rear on outside, behind 15th, pulled up before 17th
held up towards rear, headway approaching 9th, hit 15th, chasing leaders 17th, 6th and outpaced 3 out, well held after
held up in touch, mistake 6th, reminders and lost place soon after, mistake 13th (water), behind when pulled up before 15th
led until after 1st, prominent, ridden after 12th, lost place next (water), behind 15th, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, blundered 1st, lost place before 15th, well behind and ridden 15th, pulled up before 4 out
led after 1st, not fluent and headed 3rd (water), ridden and lost place after 11th, well behind 15th, tailed off
Novices Alderley Rover and Galaxy Rock both come into this in good form and don't look to be overburdened, though the latter carries a 5lb penalty for his win in a four-runner affair at Leicester earlier this month. Stablemate Can't Buy Time was fourth in the National Hunt Chase at The Festival two years ago and is only a pound higher than his last winning mark while Khachaturian wouldn't be far away if producing his best form, though his jumping is a concern around here as it is with Palypso De Creek. David Pipe saddles both last year's runner-up Faasel and Junior, with the latter coming here off the back of a good run off this mark over hurdles here in January. He is certainly one for the short-list today but the booking of Nina Carberry for GALANT NUIT catches the eye and Ferdy Murphy's gelding may be the one to beat in this finale. He was returning from a break when pulled up over timber here in December but his form over fences here last season included a victory in a Grade 3 and an excellent third in this last year off only a pound lower mark - compensation awaits.
Can't Buy Time (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division, hampered slightly 11th, chased leaders approaching next, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 15, 20l behind Tartak (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Jan.
Far More Serious (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, mistake 4th, went 2nd after 16th, led narrowly 2 out, joined last, driven and headed flat, outpaced to 3rd final 120 yards, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Regal Heights (10-7) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Billie Magern 12-1 (11-7) Wanted to hang left throughout, led and disputed, advantage from 14th, joined 15th, hit 17th, headed 3 out, driven in 3 lengths 2nd when blundered 2 out, lost 2nd soon after, rallied flat to 2nd close home, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Master Of The Hall (11-4) at Ascot 3m nov chs G2 (1) sft in Feb.
Faasel (IRE) 10-1 (10-1) Never going towards rear, ridden and struggling 8th, tailed off 15th, 10th of 16, 34l behind Midnight Chase (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Dec.
Richard's Sundance (IRE) 15-2 (11-1) Prominent, ridden and outpaced when mistake 4 out, weakened after next, pulled up after, in a race won by West End Rocker (10-11) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Jan, 15 ran.
Saddlers Storm (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up in last, ridden after 3 out, no impression in 8th before last, kept on one pace, 6th of 9, 18l behind Stonemaster (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 2f hdl sft in Feb.
Dance Island (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up 5th in touch, chased leading trio 13th, ridden and outpaced 4 out, lost well beaten 4th 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Noland (11-0) at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Mostly Bob (IRE) 11-1 (10-6) Mid-division when fell 3rd, in a race won by Quinz (11-0) at Kempton 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Feb, 16 ran.
Deal Done (FR) 8-1 (10-9) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, 5th 6 out, dropped to 12th 4 out, ridden and no impression before next, kept on one pace, 8th of 16, 43l behind Carrigmartin (9-10) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp chs sft in Feb.
Galant Nuit (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Held up in last trio, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before next, in a race won by Mossley (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Dec, 9 ran.
Den of Iniquity 12-1 (10-3) Prominent when hit 1st, jumped slowly next, soon on outside in mid-division, headway when not fluent 7th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 16th of 17, well behind Ashkazar (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Junior 11-2 (10-3) Tracked leaders, led 6th, ridden after 3 out, headed 110 yards out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 17, 3 1/2l behind Ashkazar (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Palypso De Creek (FR) 10-1 (11-9) Held up mid-division, pushed along before 7th, never dangerous, 6th of 13, 32l behind Skippers Brig (11-11) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Alderley Rover (IRE) 4-6fav (11-0) Led to 3rd, tracked leader, clear with leader 11th, led after 5 out, drew clear from next, pushed out, eased towards finish, won at Musselburgh 3m beg chase (4) sft in Feb beating Ballymacduff (11-0) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Khachaturian (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Led, hit 2nd and headed briefly, headed approaching 3 out, led briefly after, close up 2 out and not fluent , ridden and weakened before last, 5th of 13, 23l behind Skippers Brig (11-11) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Cornish Sett (IRE) 10-3fav (11-0) Behind, ridden 15th, struggling next, no chance when hung left from 4 out, 7th of 11, 39l behind Regal Heights (10-7) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Pomme Tiepy (FR) 6-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, 7th approaching 3 out, kept on same pace under pressure from next, 6th of 18, 9l behind Siegemaster (11-7) at Gowran Park 3m hcp chs sft in Jan.
Galaxy Rock (IRE) 3-10fav (11-4) Pressed leader, led 5th, left clear 11th, 14 lenghts ahead when jumped left 3 out, very easily, won at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) hvy beating Hommage A Bach (10-12) by 42l, 4 ran.
Minella Theatre (IRE) 18-1 (10-9) In rear, driven and headway 4 out, soon under pressure and weakened, 7th of 11, 47l behind Tatenen (10-13) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gs in Jan.
Fredo (IRE) 11-10fav (11-0) Held up in 5th, headway to go 2nd 9th, no impression 2 out, 8 lengths down when left in lead last, ridden out, won at Towcester 2m 6f beg chase (4) sft in Feb beating Cool Mission (11-0) by 6l, 6 ran.
Sheriff Hutton (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, pushed along after 5 out, in 3rd before 4 out, weakened last, 4th of 10, 21l behind Crescent Island (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Feb.
Burren Legend (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Hedl up in last pair, slightly hampered 11th, some headway 15th, no impression next, 5th of 8, 26l behind Iconoclast (10-4) at Ascot 3m hcp chs Listed (1) sft in Feb.
Teddy's Reflection (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Diputed lead, mistake 10th, pecked 12th and 14th, lost 2nd before next, outpaced 16th, weakened 4 out, lost 3rd next, tailed off, last of 4, 32l behind Master Of The Hall (11-4) at Ascot 3m nov chs G2 (1) sft in Feb.
Massini Man (IRE) 11-10fav (12-1) Led, ridden and headed 4 out, outpaced 2 out, rallied approaching last, stayed on to lead near finish, won at Fakenham 3m hts chs (6) gs in Feb beating Rash Move (11-11) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
