chased leaders, not always fluent jumping, kept on well without reaching 1st 2 run-in
took keen hold, held up, some headway when not fluent 3 out, no extra 2 out
tracked leaders, closed up after 3 out, on terms from before 2 out, gained narrow lead and stayed on well run-in
close up, lost position and no impression approaching 2 out, slight mistake last and one pace
led, some slight mistakes, joined from before 2 out, narrowly headed and kept on without quite matching winner run-in
held up, pushed along 6th, reminders next and headway, chased leaders and one pace from before last
tracked leaders, lost place and no impression from 8th, soon in rear and pushed along, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
soon in rear, no impression approaching 2 out, mistake last and one pace
Little to choose between many of these on official ratings and question marks against all too in a very tricky puzzle. Gordon Elliott truly muddies the waters for punters by running four of the eight but may provide the solution with THE GAME CHANGER. All runs this year have been at a much higher level and if he can recover the form from last autumn when accounting for the likes of Ballycasey and Ted Veale in successive outings, then he'd be the one they all have to beat. Stable companions Lieutenant Colonel and Flaxen Flare are both respected if anywhere near their best but the market may tell the story with Chateau Conti, making his debut for Joseph O'Brien since leaving Willie Mullins.
Chateau Conti (FR) 16-1 (11-6) Held up, soon towards rear, not always fluent jumping, no extra and eased straight, 19th of 29, dist behind Mine Now (11-0) at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Lieutenant Colonel 66-1 (11-10) Always behind, trailing after halfway, pulled up before 5 out, at Punchestown 3m (1) Yielding - Soft in Apr.
The Game Changer (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Soon raced in 2nd, not fluent 4th, 3rd at 6th, no extra and eased in last approaching 3 out where left 5th, 5th of 7, dist behind Supasundae (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) sft in Apr.
Alton Bay (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Always towards rear, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, dist behind Snowy Winter (9-5) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Flaxen Flare (IRE) 6-4fav (12-0) 7th of 25, 12 1/2l behind Archibald Thorburn (12-0) at Punchestown 1m 7f Yielding - Soft in Apr.
Lord Scoundrel (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Held up, soon towards rear, no impression 4 out, no extra approaching straight, 12th of 18, dist behind Patricks Park (10-1) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Apr.
My Wigwam Or Yours (IRE) 10-1 (12-2) Rcd 4th, last 1/2way, reminders in rr 6out & pu next, at Kirkistown 3m hvy in Mar.
As De Pique (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Towards rear, 10th at 4th, no impression, detached after 4 out, closed up on field after last (normal 2 out), ridden and no impression, 8th of 12, 9 3/4l behind Consharon Boy (11-6) at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hcp gd in Jun.
