disputed, led 2nd, joined again before 5th, bumped 7th, led before 3 out, 3 length lead 2 out, pushed along and asserted before last, kept on well, comfortably
disputed, headed 2nd, disputed again before 5th, jumped left and bumped rival 7th, ridden and headed before 3 out, no extra in 4th when not fluent 2 out, weakened
held up in rear, went 3rd after 4th, not fluent next, ridden and no impression in 4th before 4 out, no extra in 5th 3 out, kept on one pace
held up towards rear, 5th before 5th, jumped left next, mistake 7th, slow 4 out, ridden and no impression in 4th after 3 out, moderate 3rd after next, kept on one pace, went 2nd close home
raced in 3rd, mistake 4th, soon 4th, 3rd again before 4 out, pushed along in 2nd when mistake 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, kept on one pace, no extra in 3rd close home
Willie Mullins has won six of the last seven of these and ENERGUMENE has only been beaten once, in a Navan bumper on his debut under Rules. He's produced near-flawless performances in all four starts over fences, including Grade 1 races at Leopardstown and Punchestown, and the Champion Chase is the obvious target this campaign. Notebook will be no pushover as he's already a Grade 1 winner in novice company over fences and, though he didn't quite make the transition in last season's championship races, he reappeared with a very impressive victory over Samcro at Navan. All of the remainder are smart at their own level with Daly Tiger having won major handicaps at Punchestown and Fairyhouse last winter.
Energumene (FR) 2-5fav (11-12) Made all, asserted approaching straight, slight mistakes last 2, stayed on strongly, very easily, won at Punchestown 2m (1) Yielding in Apr beating Janidil (11-12) by 16l, 4 ran.
Notebook (GER) 8-15fav (11-12) Jumped well, tracked leaders in 3rd early, led from 4th, pushed along and joined briefly after 3 out, led 2 out, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Navan 2m (1) gd in Nov beating Samcro (11-9) by 10l, 5 ran.
Cash Back (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Tracked leader in 2nd and ran freely, slight mistake at 4th, took closer order at 8th, closed after 4 out, switched right in 3rd after 2 out, no impression on leader in 2nd before last where fell, at Cork 2m 1f (1) Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Daly Tiger (FR) 3-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, 4th halfway, pushed along approaching 3 out, ridden and no impression when jumped left 2 out, no extra and jumped left again last, last of 5, 31 1/4l behind Any Second Now (11-10) at Navan 2m (1) hvy in Mar.
Sizing Pottsie (FR) 28-1 (11-10) Mid-division on inside, lost place from 6th, badly hampered 9th, pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Darasso (FR) 66-1 (11-12) Rear, 7th before 7th, no impression in moderate 6th before 2 out, kept on after 2 out, never on terms, 4th of 8, 14 3/4l behind Honeysuckle (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) gd in Nov.
