chased leader, led after 2nd, ridden and headed before 3 out, no extra in 2nd 2 out, 3rd and kept on one pace from before last
mid-division best, weakened 4 out, pulled up before next
chased leaders early, settled behind leaders after 3rd, slight mistake 4th, moderate 5th halfway, ridden and no impression after 4 out, kept on one pace
mid-division and slight mistake 1st, improved to chase leaders after 2nd, 2nd halfway, slight mistake 6 out, ridden in 4th after next, under pressure in 3rd entering straight, no extra 3 out, fell 2 out
mid-division early, soon towards rear, trailing before 6 out, never a factor, mistake 2 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, ridden and no impression after 4 out, hampered and unseated rider 2 out
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, 2nd 5 out, ridden in 4th entering straight, no extra and slight mistake 3 out, weakened
led, headed after 2nd and chased leaders, 4th halfway, improved into 2nd 4 out, led before 3 out, clear 2 out, easily
held up in rear, some progress in 8th entering straight, ridden into moderate 6th 2 out, no impression in 4th before last where mistake
held up early, soon mid-division, moderate 6th halfway, ridden to progress 3 out, 3rd 2 out, 2nd and no impression on winner before last where slight mistake, kept on one pace
Henry De Bromhead has three entries with Rachael Blackmore on board Jan Maat, who did very well in his first season over fences, winning twice and placed three times. The stable use Dylan Robinson's 3lb claim aboard Ornua, last year's Grade 1 Maghull Novices' Chase winner at Aintree and still relatively well treated. Gordon Elliott is double handed and Avenir D'Une Vie, an impressive winner of a tough Fairyhouse handicap in November when stablemate Duca De Thaix was third, is an obvious danger. Everlastingpromise looks a bit high in the ratings but CONTINGENCY (NAP) can show she's well in here. Willie Mullins' mare has won both starts over fences in the style of a progressive type and a mark of 133 looks lenient.
Ornua (IRE) 22-1 (11-3) Prominent early, tracked leaders and 3rd halfway, lost place approaching 2 out, soon no extra, 8th of 14, 27l behind Aramon (12-0) at Tipperary 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Jun.
Avenir D'Une Vie (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, under pressure in mid-division at 8th, jumped right 3 out, weakened, 10th of 15, dist behind Eclair De Beaufeu (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Jan Maat (GER) 12-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, led when stumbled 2 out, soon headed, weakened final 150 yards, 10th of 18, 13l behind Chosen Mate (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Or Jaune De Somoza (FR) 25-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders on outer, close 3rd and left 2nd 2 out, soon ridden, dropped to 5th at last, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 15, 11l behind Eclair De Beaufeu (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Contingency 15-8fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, 3rd at halfway, led 3 out, went clear travelling well 2 out, pushed along run-in and stayed on well, comfortably, won at Listowel 2m 4f gd in Sep beating Grey Waters (11-7) by 3l, 9 ran.
Black Scorpion (IRE) 7-1 (10-4) Mid-division early, mistake 1st, 10th from 2nd, 9th from 9th, slight mistake next, no extra from 4 out and pulled up before 2 out, at Limerick 3m hcp hvy in Oct.
Callthebarman (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Soon disputed lead, headed from 3rd but remained prominent, lost position and mistake 3 out, weakened, 14th of 16, dist behind Drumconnor Lad (10-13) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Everlastingpromise 2-1jfav (11-5) Led, mistake 5th, narrow lead entering straight, pushed along after 2 out, bad mistake at last and ridden, headed inside final furlong, no extra in 4th close home, 4th of 7, 2 3/4l behind Allardyce (10-10) at Naas 2m hcp Yielding in Jan.
My Manekineko 4-1 (9-13) Held up in touch in last, ridden in 6th entering straight, went 4th 2 out, soon no impression, 5th of 7, 5 1/2l behind Fine Theatre (10-7) at Wexford 2m 4f hcp hvy in Mar.
Smithscorner (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, closer in 6th 2 out, ridden and headway into 3rd before last, 2nd after last, kept on without threatening winner, dropped to 3rd last strides, 3rd of 8, 7 1/2l behind Grand Partner (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m 1f Yielding - Soft in Mar.
Duca De Thaix (FR) 50-1 (11-10) Towards rear, headway from 3 out, 4th when left 3rd 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, no extra in 6th when mistake at last, 6th of 15, 15l behind Eclair De Beaufeu (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Feb.
