mid-division, 10th after 3 out, ridden into 5th and no impression from before straight, kept on without getting to leaders
mid-division, 14th approaching 6 out, 9th after 3 out, ridden into 6th and no impression from before straight, kept on without threatening
soon tracked leaders, 2nd approaching 3 out, soon lost place and no extra
hampered 1st, always behind, pulled up before 2 out
fell 4th, dead
held up, progress into 11th after 3 out, chasing leaders when brought down last
towards rear, progress travelling well from before 2 out, close up when fell last
led early, prominent, 4th approaching 3 out, soon lost place and weakened
close up and disputed lead for much, strongly pressed and jumped left 2 out, headed before straight, rallied to regain lead over 1f out, stayed on well, all out
soon settled in mid-division, closer in 5th after 3 out, 3rd before straight, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace final furlong
always prominent, slight mistake 3 out, soon struggling, fell 2 out
fell 1st
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, 12th approaching 6 out, no extra approaching 2 out
prominent, soon disputed lead, 2nd after 3 out, ridden to hold place when fell 2 out
chased leaders, 10th approaching 6 out, kept on under pressure without threatening from before 2 out
chased leaders, 7th after 3 out, ridden into 4th before straight, soon no impression, kept on same pace
mid-division best, no impression approaching 2 out
towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 8th
soon tracked leaders, 3rd after 3 out, no extra from next
mistake 1st, held up, good progress approaching 6 out, tracked leaders from before 3 out, challenged under pressure and led before straight, soon joined and headed over 1f out, kept on well without matching winner
refused to race
tracked leaders, 5th approaching 6 out, lost place from before 3 out, soon weakened, completely tailed off
Although Oslot won this for Paul Nicholls in 2008 at 11/4, he was only the second favourite to score since 1994. Several of the winners have been highly weighted though the majority have been on low marks. Nicholls is represented this time by Five Dreams, who will be trained to the minute though defeats at Ayr and Newton Abbot in April hardly suggest a victory in this ultra-competitive event. Majestic Concorde has been ante-post favourite since the markets opened despite the fact that this is his first start in a handicap over fences. He warmed up with a fourth place in the Chester Cup but has been beaten three times in five starts over the bigger obstacles and his odds don't look attractive. Themoonandsixpence has had even less experience of chasing with just two runs to his name but he's had this as his target since landing a novices' event at Wexford last August and ran well behind Cuan Na Grai at Punchestown on his only subsequent start. Paco Jack won twice over the C&D last year and any further rain will aid his cause though a 10lbs higher mark makes life much more difficult. The Fonze has been in superb form over timber but is probably even better over fences as he showed when beating War Of Attrition in the Grade 2 Gowran Park Champion Chase. THE LAST DERBY, the winner of a Listed handicap at Ascot in October, gets the nod as he should have his ideal conditions and Eoin Griffin looks to have timed his preparation to perfection after he returned from a long absence to beat Eagle's Pass over hurdles at Cork earlier this month.
The Fonze (IRE) 9-4 (11-6) Held up in touch, progress into 5th after halfway, 4th after 3 out, 3rd and ridden to challenge after 2 out, soon edged right, led approaching last, stayed on well, won at Limerick 2m hdl gf beating Final Day (11-6) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Northern Alliance (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Behind, hit 5th, hampered 8th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Tranquil Sea (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov, 16 ran.
Backstage (FR) 14-1 (10-13) Mid-division, 8th halfway, dropped to rear before 3 out, ridden and no impression 3 out, kept on one pace, 7th of 11, 18l behind Grey Soldier (11-5) at Bellewstown 2m 4f hcp hdl gf.
Deutschland (USA) (10-3) 10th of 15, 2 3/4l behind Young Poli (10-5) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 5f hdl Grd 2 sft in May.
Don't Be Bitin (IRE) 2-1 (10-11) Led, jumped right throughout, ridden and strongly pressed after 2 out, headed after last, rallied under pressure, led again on line, won at Tipperary 2m 1f chs gf in Jun beating Bobs Pride (10-13) by shd, 6 ran.
Nedzer's Return (IRE) 5-4fav (11-5) With leader, led 4th, ridden between last 2, headed last, rallied and every chance flat, just held, 2nd of 7, nk behind Bucephalus (11-2) at Perth 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Bobs Pride (IRE) 15-8fav (10-13) Held up in touch, 4th 4 out, smooth headway after 2 out, led after last, pushed out, caught on line, 2nd of 6, shd behind Don't Be Bitin (10-11) at Tipperary 2m 1f chs gf in Jun.
Cuan Na Grai (IRE) 11-4fav (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 4 out, led after 3 out, strongly pressed and headed from next, soon no impression and kept on same pace, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Bahrain Storm (11-4) at Tipperary 2m hdl Grd 3 (1) gd.
Finger Onthe Pulse (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Mid-division, 8th approaching 4 out, mistake and unseated rider next, in a race won by Polmar (9-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp chs gd in Apr, 16 ran.
Majestic Concorde (IRE) 8-11fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, 2nd 4 out, improved to lead 2 out, pushed out and kept on well from before last where slight mistake, comfortably, won at Sligo 2m 4f chs in Oct beating Saddler's Native (10-13) by 7l, 11 ran.
Montero (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Prominent, 2nd halfway, led 6 out, headed after 3 out, 5th and ridden approaching straight, no extra, 9th of 18, 19l behind Gallery Man (11-0) at Listowel 3m hcp hdl 8Evens23 gf in Jun.
Grand Slam Hero (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, hampered 4th, headway after 10th, not much room 3 out, went 2nd next, led last, driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd beating Putney Bridge (10-11) by 1 1/4l, 16 ran.
Nicanor (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Rear of mid-division, went moderate 7th after 3 out, soon no impression and kept on, 5th of 12, 21l behind Bahrain Storm (11-4) at Tipperary 2m hdl Grd 3 (1) gd.
Lucky Wish 8-11fav (11-12) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, 4th 6 out, ridden in 5th before 3 out, no extra from 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 12, 25l behind Swiftmarc (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl gf in May.
Sarteano (FR) 5-2fav (11-6) Led, headed approaching 4th, ridden in 5th 3 out, kept on same pace in 4th last, no impression leaders, 4th of 13, 6l behind The Fonze (11-12) at Down Royal 2m hdl fm in Jun.
Five Dream (FR) 7-4 (11-8) Tended to jump right, tracked leading trio, went 3rd before 4 out, close up when ridden 2 out, chased winner last, no extra and outbattled flat, 2nd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Overclear (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Apr.
Holly Tree (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Led, mistake and reminders 6th, narrowly headed when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, last of 7, 12l behind Schelm (11-3) at Killarney 2m 1f chs gd.
Paco Jack (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) In rear, headway into 9th on outer 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well from last, never nearer, 4th of 16, 1 3/4l behind Lough Ferrib (11-11) at Sligo 2m 2f hcp hdl 8Evens09 gd in May.
The Last Derby (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, closer in 2nd on inner entering straight, ridden to lead after 2 out, strongly pressed and joined before last, led and kept on well run-in, won at Cork 2m 4f hdl gf beating Eagle's Pass (10-9) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Themoonandsixpence (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Mid-division, mistake 5th, moderate 5th approaching 4 out, closer in 3rd 3 out, under pressure when bumped 2 out, 2nd and no impression on winner last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 8l behind Cuan Na Grai (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 2f nov chs gd in Apr.
Hampstead Heath (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Towards rear, closer in 6th approaching straight, 4th 2 out, ridden to challenge and lead before last, stayed on well to go clear run-in, comfortably, won at Killarney 2m 6f nov chs gd in May beating Warcraft (11-10) by 7l, 12 ran.
Bringbackthebiff (NZ) 2-1fav (11-10) Soon led, challenged 2 out, pushed out to assert before last, kept on strongly run-in, comfortably, won at Tramore 2m 6f chs gf in Apr beating Window Of Hope (11-10) by 6l, 10 ran.
Dancing Tornado (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Held up, ridden and no impression from 4 out, towards rear when refused last, in a race won by Bluesea Cracker (10-3) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp chs hvy in Apr, 26 ran.
Valerius (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Always towards rear, weakened before 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Casey Top (9-13) at Killarney 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140, 14 ran.
Invisible Man (FR) 5-2fav (10-12) Led until 1st, with leader, led 6th, drew clear from 3 out, eased towards finish, won at Market Rasen 2m 4f nov chs (4) gf in Jun beating Important Business (10-12) by 13l, 7 ran.
