tracked leaders, 4th halfway, slight mistake 6 out, hampered and lost place 5 out, 9th after 3 out, no impression 2 out
held up towards rear, progress into 8th 2 out, fell last
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, close up 5 out and left disputing, led after 3 out, reached for 2 out, ridden after last, pressed entering straight, carried right by loose horse and hindered inside final furlong, all out close home
always towards rear, slight mistake 2nd, ridden and no extra after 3 out, weakened and tailed off
mid-division early, hampered 3rd, tracked leaders from 5th, 3rd halfway, close up 5 out and left disputing, mistake and headed next, 3rd after 3 out, ridden in 4th after last, no extra 1f out
tracked leaders early, mistake 4th, soon mid-division, closer 5 out, 7th next, ridden and no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders early, soon settled mid-division, 8th before 2 out, hampered last, soon no extra
tracked leaders early, soon mid-division, slightly hampered 5 out, soon closer, 6th 3 out, improved on inner 2 out, ridden in 3rd after last, under pressure in 2nd 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
pushed along early, soon tracked leader, slight mistake 2nd, 2nd halfway, weakened 5 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, slight mistake 2nd, ridden and no impression before 2 out, under pressure in 10th entering straight, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, fell 3rd
mid-division, closer 5 out, 5th next, ridden in 7th after last, no impression in 6th entering straight, kept on same pace
held up, hampered 5 out, never a factor, no impression before 2 out, mistake last
held up, closer after 5 out, 7th 3 out, ridden before 2 out, 5th entering straight, stayed on into 2nd inside final furlong, stand's side and pressed leader closing stages, just held
mid-division, hampered and unseated rider 3rd
towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 1st
held up towards rear, hampered 1st and 5 out, mistake 3 out, ridden and no impression 2 out, kept on one pace
mid-division, 7th halfway, closer after 5 out, disputed 4 out, 2nd after 3 out, ridden to press leader approaching straight and hampered by loose horse, under pressure in 4th 1f out, kept on same pace
led, joined and fell 5 out
tracked leaders, 6th halfway, mistake 6 out, closer in 4th after 5 out, ridden and no extra after last
behind early, closed up in rear halfway, ridden before last, 13th entering straight, kept on same pace run-in
Early Doors won this in 2020 but Mark Walsh prefers the owners The Shunter, which is no surprise given the nine-year-olds record in big races with two victories at Cheltenham to his credit. His trainer makes no secret that he's targeted this race along with Cape Gentleman, a Grade 2 winner over hurdles who was in cracking form in novice chases last autumn. Last year's runner-up Easy Game, one of a trio of Willie Mullins' entries, has won his last four over fences and Jack Foley has been booked to reduce his big weight. Paul Townend is on board El Barra, who has had a break since landing a lucrative handicap at the Punchestown festival for which he's been raised 10lb. Joseph O'Brien is mob-handed with Punchestown handicap winner Fire Attack possibly the best of them while Battleoverdoyen, a winner at this fixture last year, can go well for Gordon Elliott. GABYNAKO has been placed in Grade 1 company at Cheltenham and Punchestown the last twice. Beaten a head by Grand National hero Noble Yeats here in October he's been freshened up by Gavin Cromwell and has the class to see him home.
Easy Game (FR) 2-9fav (11-10) Made all, pressed early, 5-length advantage halfway, asserted before last, not extended, won at Tramore 2m 6f gd in Jul beating Dromore Lad (11-0) by 9 1/2l, 4 ran.
Gabynako (FR) 3-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along and closer when mistake 2 out, ridden and no impression in 3rd approaching last, no extra, 3rd of 6, 9 1/4l behind Blue Lord (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Hewick (IRE) 9-4fav (11-8) Disputed lead, headed after 1st, slight mistake at 2nd, 3rd 4 out, improved to lead travelling well before 2 out, attempted to assert before last, kept on run-in, all out close home, headed final stride, 2nd of 14, hd behind Metersandmasks (10-11) at Ballinrobe 3m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in May.
Daly Tiger (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Held up in rear, reminders 4th, 4th from 6 out, ridden 3 out, no impression before next where fell heavily, at Cork 3m (1) hvy in Apr.
Cape Gentleman (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, 2nd after 7th, 3rd after 9th, mistake and fell 4 out, at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) gd in Nov.
The Shunter (IRE) 5-6fav (10-7) Missed break, soon raced towards rear, 7th halfway, rapid headway on outer under 3f out, travelled well to lead over 2f out, ridden and asserted over 1f out, kept on well, comfortably, won at Sligo 1m 5f mdn Good - Yielding in May beating Beautiful Chaos (10-2) by 4 1/4l, 9 ran.
Annamix (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, pushed along 3rd, no impression from 3 out, never a factor, 9th of 13, 35 1/2l behind Royal Rendezvous (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
El Barra (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Made all, pressed and disputed from 7th, led entering straight, ridden after 2 out, steadied last, kept on strongly run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr beating Busselton (10-12) by 6l, 15 ran.
Notebook (GER) 4-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, close up and pressed early, 5-lengths 2nd halfway, ridden and no impression after 3 out, pressed for 2nd 2 out, lost 2nd run-in, kept on same pace, 3rd of 4, 10l behind Easy Game (11-10) at Tramore 2m 6f gd in Jul.
Ronald Pump 14-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders early, rear of mid-division halfway, headway on outer 14th, 8th 5 out, 7th and pushed along entering straight, no impression after 2 out and fell last, at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp Yielding in Apr.
A Wave Of The Sea (IRE) 50-1 (11-1) Held up in mid-division, ridden in 6th and no impression after 3 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 11, 13 1/4l behind Santa Rossa (10-12) at Tipperary 2m (1) Yielding in Jun.
Battleoverdoyen (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Mid-division, pushed along in 7th before 3 out, soon ridden and no extra, 7th of 14, 30 1/2l behind Hurricane Georgie (10-8) at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
Castlegrace Paddy (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Awkward and slow from stalls, held up behind leaders, 3rd halfway, travelled well into 2nd 3f out, ridden to challenge 1f out, soon led and edged left final 150 yards, kept on well to assert closing stages, comfortably, won at Killarney 1m 6f mdn gd in Jul beating Raven Rule (11-7) by 4 1/4l, 5 ran.
Darasso (FR) 9-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, slight mistake 4th, ridden in moderate 7th and no impression after 3 out, kept on one pace, 7th of 11, 24 1/4l behind Santa Rossa (10-12) at Tipperary 2m (1) Yielding in Jun.
Exelerator Express (FR) 9-4 (12-0) Bumped badly 1st, held up in last, effort from 3 out, 3rd before 2 out, stayed on well final 100 yards, not quite able to get on terms, 3rd of 5, 1l behind Minella Trump (11-12) at Perth 3m hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Hurricane Georgie (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, mid-division when short of room between horses after 4 out, 6th 3 out, 3rd 2 out and soon 2nd travelling well, led before last, ridden and kept on well, easily, won at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hcp gd in Jul beating Popong (10-8) by 13l, 14 ran.
The Jam Man (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Prominent early, tracked clear leader after 2f and 3rd halfway, pushed along 4f out, ridden and weakened entering straight, 8th of 9, 27l behind Nibiru (9-1) at Fairyhouse 1m 6f gd in Jul.
Ash Tree Meadow (FR) 8-13fav (11-12) Made all, asserted before last where slight mistake, easily, won at Killarney 2m 1f gd in Jul beating The Little Yank (11-2) by 6l, 5 ran.
Fire Attack (IRE) 13-8fav (11-9) Led and clear, made all, increased advantage at 2nd, reduced lead before 9th, 5 lengths clear at 10th, 1 length clear 4 out, pressed 2 out where not fluent, asserted before last, kept on well, won at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp gd in May beating Bold Enough (11-10) by 4l, 6 ran.
Gin On Lime (FR) 8-13fav (11-7) Led, raced keenly, inclined to jump a little left, 5 lengths clear halfway, reduced lead 3 out, pushed along and joined when jumped left and bumped rival 2 out, soon headed narrowly, bumped last, no impression, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Say Goodbye (11-2) at Limerick 2m 4f gd in May.
Discordantly (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Mid-division, slight mistake 8th, headway into 3rd 3 out, ridden and dispute lead 2 out, strongly pressed at last, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace close home, 2nd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Royal Rendezvous (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Early Doors (FR) 50-1 (11-1) Mid-division early, towards rear halfway, slight mistake 4 out, ridden and no impression, 8th of 11, 28 3/4l behind Santa Rossa (10-12) at Tipperary 2m (1) Yielding in Jun.
