in rear of midfield, mistake 8th, hit 12th, towards rear and ridden 13th, tailed off 17th, pulled up before 18th
midfield, mistake 4th (water), jumped right 6th, mistake 18th, pushed along before 4 out, ridden before 3 out, 10 lengths down in 3rd 2 out, took 2nd last, stayed on strongly flat, led on line
towards rear, not fluent 7th, fell 9th
led, headed after 2nd, lost place 7th, not fluent 11th, awkward 15th, reminders after 16th, slow 17th, pulled up before 18th
midfield, not fluent 8th, ridden after 15th, lost touch 18th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
driven to start with rest, midfield 1st, led after 2nd, 5 lengths clear 3rd, reduced advantage 9th, mistake and headed 17th, weakened quickly 18th, pulled up before 4 out
held up in touch, close up 17th, ridden after 4 out, one pace from 3 out
in rear, awkward 1st, hit 5th, blundered 13th, ridden after 15th, well adrift 17th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, well adrift 15th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
prominent, mistake 13th, hit 16th, pressed leaders 4 out, ridden before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, beaten when pulled up before last
held up in touch, ridden after 4 out, pressed leader 3 out, weakened before last
held up in midfield, hampered 9th, not fluent 12th, ridden after 13th, awkward 14th, tailed off 16th, pulled up before 2 out
in rear of midfield, blundered 1st and dropped to rear, pushed along after 10th, lost touch 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 16th
towards rear, lost touch 15th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
midfield, some headway 17th, not fluent 4 out and ridden, hit 3 out, weakened before 2 out
midfield, lost ground and towards rear 5th, detached 9th, well adrift when pulled up before 11th
held up in rear, mistake 1st, modest headway 12th, lost touch 17th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
midfield, hit 11th, ridden before 18th, lost touch with leaders before 4 out, drifted right before 3 out, stayed on from 2 out
held up in touch, chased leader 6th, jumped ahead 17th, ridden and joined 3 out, led again 2 out, clear last, headed on line
NonRunner
Cousin Pascal beat Bob And Co by two lengths at Haydock with Overworkdunderpaid a close third but the runner-up was having a first run since May. He beat BILLAWAY in the Champion Hunters Chase at Punchestown last April and was still travelling when unseating David Maxwell in this 12 months ago but the weights today appear to favour Willie Mullins’ runner, who can make it third-time lucky having finished second in 2020 and 2021. Winged Leader is a danger as he beat the selection 12 lengths at Thurles in January, though probably enjoyed a fitness advantage that day. Dubai Quest is 2-2 under Rules and Pont Aven has turned out to be a useful acquisition. It Came To Pass won this in 2020 but isn’t getting any younger.
Back Bar (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Close up, joined leader 11th, led 4 out, clear 2 out, ridden and ran on, won at Leicester 2m 7f (5) sft in Feb beating Hotel Du Nord (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Billaway (IRE) 2-5fav (12-0) Led and disputed, mistake 5 out, led travelling well 2 out, soon clear, eased run-in, very easily, won at Naas 3m 1f Soft - Heavy in Feb beating Good Bye Sam (12-0) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Bob And Co (FR) 5-6fav (12-4) Led and disputed, led 3rd until 7th, in front again after 5 out, headed before reached for next, pushed along and no response before 2 out, stayed on again run-in, went 2nd post, not reach winner, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Cousin Pascal (12-4) at Haydock 2m 6f (3) hvy in Feb.
Cousin Pascal (FR) 9-4 (12-4) Raced keenly in 3rd out wide, hit 4th, led before 3 out, clear next, driven and stayed on run-in, all out, won at Haydock 2m 6f (3) hvy in Feb beating Bob And Co (12-4) by 2l, 4 ran.
Desire De Joie (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden and joined leader at 3 out, rallied and came to lead at 2 out, every chance and still led at final fence, kept on but headed close home, just denied, 2nd of 5, shd behind Dolphin Square (12-6) at Doncaster 3m 2f (6) sft in Feb.
Don Bersy (FR) 1-3fav (11-10) (cp) ref to race 2, at Kingston Blount 3m gd in May.
Dubai Quest (IRE) 11-8fav (12-2) Chased leader until hit 9th, not fluent 12th, went 2nd 14th, mistake next, led 3 out, clear last, stayed on well, won at Wetherby 3m (6) gd in Feb beating Le Breuil (11-12) by 5 1/2l, 5 ran.
Fumet D'Oudairies (FR) 1-4fav (11-5) Hdwy 14; led 3 out; drvn out, won at Horseheath 3m gd in Jan beating Normofthenorth (11-5) by 2 1/2l, 3 ran.
It Came To Pass (IRE) 5-1 (12-2) Alw in rr, bhnd in 7th 1/2way, lost tch in 7th well bef 4out, cto in 5th when fell 3out, at Turtulla 3m Yielding in Jan.
Lord Schnitzel (IRE) 1-8 (12-2) Made all, 3l adv from 8th, mstk 4out, 3l adv from 3out, gng best bef last, ko, snugly, won at Kildorrery 3m hvy in Feb beating Space Cadet (12-2) by 2l, 3 ran.
Mighty Stowaway (IRE) 1-2 (12-2) Mid-div, 4th by 3rd, cl 2nd brfly aftr 6out, rdn in 3rd aftr 4out, btn in 4th when v slw 3out, pu 2out, at Knockanard 3m sft in Feb.
Monbeg Chit Chat Evensfav (12-3) Trckd ldrs; chall 15; led nr fin, won at Alnwick 3m gd in Jan beating Cuneo (12-0) by 1l, 6 ran.
Overworkdunderpaid (IRE) 6-1 (12-4) Held up in close 4th, disputing 3rd 7th until next, pushed along on inside and every chance when awkward 4 out, went 2nd before the last, stayed on run-in, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 4, 2l behind Cousin Pascal (12-4) at Haydock 2m 6f (3) hvy in Feb.
Point The Way (IRE) 10-11fav (12-5) Hdwy 11; led 15; clr 2 out; easy, won at Charm Park 3m 4f sft in Mar beating Sartorial Elegance (12-5) by 30l, 4 ran.
Pont Aven (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd and closer at 5th, hit 8th and next, led 12th, made rest, clear before 4 out, went left and hit 2 out, easily, won at Ludlow 3m (4) gs in Feb beating Bletchley Castle (11-12) by 16l, 9 ran.
Premier Magic (IRE) 2-5fav (12-3) (tt) trckd ldrs 5; led aft 15; clr 2 out; easy, won at Milborne St Andrew 3m gd in Jan beating River Myth (11-7) by 20l, 7 ran.
Rewritetherules (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) (h) a wl bhnd; t.o, 9th of 12, dist behind Igor (11-7) at Larkhill 3m sft in Dec.
Senor Lombardy (IRE) 5-4fav (12-0) Stdy hdwy 8; led 11; drew clr aft 15; unchall, won at Alnwick 3m gs in Feb beating Alone No More (12-0) by 20l, 11 ran.
Winged Leader (IRE) 4-1 (12-2) Disputed lead and led from 3rd, slight mistake 2 out, pushed along and 5 lengths clear entering straight, kept on well final furlong, won at Thurles 3m 1f Good - Yielding in Jan beating Billaway (12-2) by 12l, 7 ran.
Zamparelli (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) (bl) (tt) went 2nd 4-11; chsd wnr 2 out; r.o, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Southfield Theatre (12-0) at Larkhill 3m gs in Feb.
