ran 4th, dropped to 5th at 6th, took closer order 4 out, no impression and slightly detached 2 out, detached after last, kept on one pace in moderate 4th closing stages
tracked leader in close 2nd, not fluent at 3rd, 3rd after 4th, dropped to 4th at 7th, 3rd at 8th, 4th before 4 out, not fluent last, soon under pressure, weakened final furlong
led narrowly, mistake at 4th, headed at 5th, led after 5th, not fluent at 7th, increased lead before 10th, under pressure and reminder before 2 out, pressed last, soon headed, no impression run-in
raced 3rd, not fluent at 1st and reminder, improved to 2nd after 4th, led at 5th, soon ran freely and headed, not fluent at 7th, challenged leader last, soon led, asserted over 1f out, kept on well
in rear, 4th at 6th, improved to 3rd at 7th, 4th at 8th, progress to 3rd before 4 out, closed last where pecked badly, no extra inside final furlong
The veteran Bacardys, winner of two Grade 1 races over hurdles back in 2017, retains plenty of ability having easily won a beginners' chase at Clonmel in June. Stablemate Jon Snow has much less experience but followed a promising chasing debut in a race that has worked out well on this track with a convincing success at Killarney. Darrens Hope has been ultra-consistent throughout his career so it was a surprise when he ran poorly at Listowel though might just have needed the run. FRONTAL ASSAULT is the obvious form pick on his superb second in the Irish Grand National and, though unraced subsequently, Gordon Elliott should have him ready to take advantage of favourable race conditions.
Bacardys (FR) 3-1 (11-5) Led, jumped left at 1st, not fluent at 4th, headed before 6th, led after 7th, increased advantage 4 out, reduced lead after 3 out, headed 2 out where mistake and fell, at Tramore 2m 6f gd in Aug.
Jon Snow (FR) 11-10fav (11-12) Prominent and disputed lead, led briefly after 5th, headed 7th, led again 2 out, soon pushed along and 1 length lead last, kept on well run-in, won at Killarney 2m 7f Good - Yielding in Aug beating Oscar Academy (11-12) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Darrens Hope (IRE) 11-10fav (11-7) Led, headed before 1st, 3rd at 3rd, 4th at 7th, under pressure after 9th, dropped to 5th after 10th, reminder before 3 out, no extra in moderate 4th 3 out, 4th of 6, 28 1/4l behind Motown Maggie (11-0) at Listowel 2m 4f gd in Sep.
Frontal Assault (IRE) 18-1 (10-7) Always prominent, led 5th, slow 13th and joined, slow 14th and headed, led again 16th, pushed along and headed 2 out, ridden before last and no impression on winner run-in, 2nd of 27, 4 3/4l behind Lord Lariat (10-5) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp Yielding in Apr.
Stormey (IRE) 17-2 (12-0) Tracked leaders, disputed briefly 6th, soon headed and raced in 2nd, pushed along after 4 out, 4th when mistake next, ridden in 5th when hampered 2 out, no impression, kept on one pace, 6th of 10, 9 3/4l behind Ricky Langford (10-12) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp gd in Oct.
