midfield, mistake 8th, took closer order before 10th, outpaced and lost ground after 12th, made some headway after 2 out, no extra from last
held up, jumped slowly 5th, weakened after 3 out, jumped slowly next, tailed off
led, not fluent 1st, headed next, pressed leader 4th, led before 6th, headed next, jumped slowly 10th, pressed leader before 3 out, not fluent next, soon ridden for effort, stayed on to go second after last
raced keenly, chased leaders, hit 2nd, went second approaching 2 out, led going well before last, big jump last, kept on flat
pulled hard, chased leaders, dropped to rear before 11th and given reminder, mistake 12th, soon struggling, tailed off 2 out
chased leader, led 2nd, joined 4th, headed before 6th where not fluent, led again next, joined approaching 3 out, ridden and headed before last, lost second flat
in touch, headway 9th, outpaced from 12th, plugged on one pace from 2 out
Placed in top-class company over hurdles for Willie Mullins, Getareason had three runs over fences last season for Paul Nicholls. He is back over the larger obstacles for the first time for Rebecca Menzies and should be thereabouts with a clear round. A winner twice over hurdles, First Lord De Cuet has the potential to be even better over fences having already won a point but is taken on here with THEGALLANTWAY. Fergal O’Brien’s stable is looking to carry on where it left off at the end of last season and the eight-year-old has shown plenty of promise, despite being quite highly tried so far in chases.
Astute Boy (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Chased leader, hit 2nd, led next until 4th, lost 2nd 4 out, chased leaders, weakened next, behind and pulled up before 2 out, at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Crow Stone 33-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out until ridden before next, weakened soon after, 8th of 13, 24l behind Peltwell (11-1) at Newcastle 2m hcp (5) gd in Mar.
First Lord De Cuet (FR) 50-1 (11-4) Badly hampered 1st, headway chasing leaders after 7th, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 14th of 22, 35 1/4l behind Galopin Des Champs (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Getareason (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Towards rear, badly hampered by faller 1st and unseated rider, at Perth 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Houston Texas (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Midfield, ridden after 5 out, tailed off after 4 out, pulled up, at Ayr 3m (4) hvy in Jan.
Thegallantway (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 6th and then towards rear, pushed along after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, 5th of 8, 10 1/2l behind One For You (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Welsh Reign (IRE) 50-1 (11-6) Chased leaders early, mid-division before 4th, ridden and no extra after 4 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, at Thurles 2m 7f mdn hvy in Feb.
