led and disputed, bad mistake 3rd and briefly dropped to mid-division, mistake 4 out and soon led, headed 3 out and ridden, soon no impression on leaders
towards rear, pushed along at 2nd, trailing 4th, pulled up after 5th
mid-division on outer, headway into 4th at 12th, improved to lead 3 out, ridden clear and mistake 2 out, stayed on well run-in
rear of mid-division, under pressure 8th, weakened 12th, pulled up before 3 out
rear of mid-division, progress to track leaders at halfway, slight mistake 10th and dropped to mid-division, headway again from 4 out, 3rd 3 out, ridden and no impression on winner disputing 2nd next, dropped to 4th next, no extra
towards rear, headway from 5 out, went 5th and pushed along 3 out, disputed 2nd and ridden 2 out, no impression on winner in 2nd at last, kept on same pace inside final furlong
disputed lead early, headed 4th, soon tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out
mid-division, pushed along early, dropped to rear at 10th, soon weakened pulled up before 4 out
rear of mid-division, progress into 7th before 3 out, soon ridden, moderate 6th 2 out, no extra
rear of mid-division, mistake and unseated rider at 1st
towards rear, headway 5 out, went 6th and pushed along 3 out, ridden in 4th 2 out, no impression on winner and went 3rd at last, kept on inside final furlong
always behind, trailing 10th, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
disputed lead early, headed 3rd, soon raced behind leaders, ridden in moderate 9th 3 out, soon no impression
mid-division, ridden after 4 out, soon no impression, never a factor
mid-division, progress to track leaders at halfway, ridden in 4th when mistake 3 out, soon weakened
led and disputed, mistake and headed 13th, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before 3 out
led and disputed, headed after 4 out, soon ridden and no impression on leaders
Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott share twelve of the 18 runners. The former has the top two in the weights and Acapella Bourgeois was an excellent third in the Irish Grand National in April while Chef Des Obeaux is returning to his best judging by his run in the Paddy Power won by Roaring Bull. The latter has been raised 7lb which looks harsh as he only just got up in a bunch finish but he's still a youngster in staying chase terms and can improve enough to get into the frame. Daryl Jacob travels over to ride BORICE, the Galway Plate winner. His mount didn't show much in the Grade 3 Ladbroke Trophy at Newbury but, with the ground drying out here, he should have conditions to suit and gets the nod.
Acapella Bourgeois (FR) 8-1 (11-1) Disputed until led before 2nd, ran freely, joined 12th, headed and not fluent 5 out, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and no impression before last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Al Boum Photo (11-12) at Tramore 2m 5f (1) sft in Jan.
Chef Des Obeaux (FR) 25-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, improved to dispute after 7th, bad mistake 3 out and soon headed, close up again next, ridden in 2nd entering straight, pressed leader and jumped right last, no extra run-in, kept on same pace, 5th of 27, 6 1/2l behind Roaring Bull (10-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Total Recall (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Led early and ran freely, headed before 1st, chased leader in 2nd, slight mistake 6th and not fluent 5 out, pushed along and no impression in 3rd 2 out, no extra, 3rd of 7, 20 1/2l behind The Storyteller (11-0) at Clonmel 3m sft in Dec.
Borice (FR) 12-1 (10-13) Mid-division, pushed along and some headway approaching 4 out, ridden and weakened before hit 2 out, 10th of 24, 22 1/2l behind De Rasher Counter (11-1) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Ex Patriot (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Handy, every chance 3 out, ridden before 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, 4th of 12, 4 3/4l behind Oldgrangewood (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Class Conti (FR) 50-1 (11-7) Always towards rear, ridden and no extra before 2 out where slight mistake, fell last, at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Livelovelaugh (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division and mistake 1st, ridden and no extra before 2 out, weakened before last, 13th of 27, dist behind Roaring Bull (10-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Moyhenna (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, 4th and in touch when fell 3 out, at Limerick 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec.
Roaring Bull (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Mid-division, progress into 7th before 3 out, ridden entering straight, under pressure in 6th last, stayed on well run-in to lead close home, won at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec beating Fitzhenry (10-11) by 1/2l, 27 ran.
Choungaya (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, mistake 3rd, 6th from 4th, slight mistake 6th, reminders from next, pushed along and closed approaching 2 out, soon no impression, no extra straight, 4th of 10, 27 3/4l behind Easy Game (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 5f Yielding in Dec.
Minella Fair (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Mid-division best, dropped towards rear 11th, pulled up before 2 out, at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Noble Endeavor (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) A little slow at 1st, soon mid-division, 14th from 5th, slight mistake 5 out, no extra from before 2 out, 17th of 25, dist behind Treacysenniscorthy (9-12) at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
General Principle (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Disputed, chased leaders after 3rd, slight mistake 6th, 4th halfway, ridden and no extra 3 out, weakened after next, pulled up before last, at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Smoking Gun (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistakes 5th and 6th, headway into close 4th when left 2nd on outer 2 out, led after 2 out, soon ridden clear, stayed on well under pressure run-in, won at Punchestown 3m 1f Yielding in Dec beating Early Doors (11-12) by 4l, 9 ran.
Lord Schnitzel (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Raced in 5th, bumped 5th, 4th after 8th, closed 3 out, pushed along in 3rd approaching straight, soon no extra in rear, left 4th from last, 4th of 6, dist behind Carefully Selected (11-1) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan.
Pont Aven (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, mistake and unseated rider 6th, at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Mick The Jiver 14-1 (11-6) Soon chased leaders, pecked slightly 7th, 4th from 8th, soon closed, on terms 3 out, led between last 2, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Navan 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec beating Wonderoftheworld (11-9) by 3 1/4l, 10 ran.
Out Sam 33-1 (11-4) Mid-division, not fluent 10th, headway 25th, chased winner 3 out, ridden and no impression between last 2, held when lost 2nd at last, 3rd of 15, 13l behind Easysland (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Dounikos (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Raced in 4th early, soon 5th, pushed along after 5 out, slightly impeded 3 out, soon no impression, 5th of 6, 19 3/4l behind Jett (11-8) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding in Oct.
Monbeg Notorious (IRE) 50-1 (11-6) Always towards rear, trailing before 10th, completely tailed off, 15th of 27, dist behind Roaring Bull (10-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Solomn Grundy (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Soon prominent and disputed, led from 9th, mistake 10th and almost unseated, joined after next, headed 3 out, ridden to challenge again next, no extra in 6th before last, kept on one pace, 7th of 27, 17 1/4l behind Roaring Bull (10-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
