held up in rear, slight mistake 2nd and rider lost iron, in touch in last next, progress into 3rd at 12th, went 2nd 3 out, ridden entering straight, no impression on winner after 2 out, kept on same pace
disputed lead, mistake 5th and headed, weakened to rear from 8th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 6 out
held up behind leaders, closer in 4th at 11th, 2nd briefly 4 out, ridden in 3rd next, moderate 3rd from 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, 2nd from 9th, ridden and dropped to 4th 4 out, soon no impression on leaders, moderate 4th before straight
tracked leaders, mistake on outer 7th, 4th at 12th, weakened to moderate 5th 5 out, soon trailing, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, no impression on leaders from 11th, soon trailing, behind when pulled up before 3 out
disputed lead early, led from 5th and made rest, not fluent 3 out and soon strongly pressed, slight mistake 2 out, soon ridden clear of sole danger, stayed on well from last
This is usually won by a useful staying type as it was a year ago when Roi Du Mee was successful. He's been a bit in and out subsequently and was tailed off in the Hennessy at Leopardstown last time so is overlooked. His stablemate Mount Benbulben has a penalty to carry for his victory in a Grade 1 novices' event last April and doesn't quite have the experience of some of these. However, he's very useful on his day and looks the main threat to ON HIS OWN, who is handed the vote. He'll no doubt be heading back to Aintree for the Grand National but showed that a victory at this level was achievable when battling to success in the lucrative Thyestes Chase at Gowran. Quito De La Roque beat Roi Du Mee comfortably in a Grade 2 at Thurles a year ago but has never recaptured that form.
Mount Benbulben (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Towards rear, not fluent 12th, headway 5 out, chasing leaders when slow next, ridden to challenge 2 out, weakening when left in 4th at last, 4th of 9, 17l behind Silviniaco Conti (11-10) at Kempton 3m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec.
Roi Du Mee (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Led early, headed 2nd, tracked leader in 2nd, dropped to rear before 2 out, soon no extra and eased, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Last Instalment (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m Grade 1 chs (1).
Buckers Bridge (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, progress into 10th 2 out, ridden and no impression before last, kept on one pace, 10th of 21, 16l behind He'llberemembered (10-4) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp chs sft in Jan.
Lion Na Bearnai (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Prominent, on terms from 2nd, led 6th, joined from before 5 out, led again before straight, pressed from before last, stayed on well under pressure to assert run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m 5f chs hvy beating Competitive Edge (11-4) by 4l, 5 ran.
Quito De La Roque (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Prominent, 2nd halfway, jumped left at 8th, ridden in 4th 2 out, no extra in 5th entering straight, kept on one pace, 5th of 18, 14l behind Folsom Blue (10-1) at Punchestown 3m 4f Handicap Chase (Grade C) (5yo+) hvy.
Make A Track (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Disputed early, soon chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden entering straight, under pressure in 7th last and slightly hampered, kept on same pace run-in, 7th of 21, 7l behind He'llberemembered (10-4) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp chs sft in Jan.
On His Own (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Made all, ridden 3 out, drifted left approaching 2 out where jumped right, drifted left before last where jumped right, kept on well run-in, won at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp chs in Jan beating Los Amigos (10-4) by 6l, 18 ran.
