chased leaders, disputed 2nd from 6 out, 3rd 3 out, ridden and no impression after 2 out, kept on same pace from before last
held up, closer behind leaders when fell 5th
held up, ridden into 4th before last, soon no impression and kept on same pace
held up early, improved to chase leader before 5th, dropped to 4th 4 out, slight mistake 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, no extra before last
held up behind leaders, slight mistake 7th, 5th halfway, fell 4 out
chased leader, not fluent 1st and 2nd, ridden in 2nd after 2 out, no impression on leader from last, kept on same pace
held up in rear, jinked right and unseated rider 5th
made all, shaken up briefly after last, soon stretched clear, easily
MONKFISH beat Latest Exhibition a neck over 3m in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham and by 3 lengths in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Chase over that trip in December. The latter is himself a Grade 1 winner over timber having won at this fixture a year ago. The drop in trip shouldn't be a problem for either but Willie Mullins' charge again looks the one to beat. His stable companion Asterion Forlonge, a high-class hurdler, made mistakes when making a successful chasing debut at Punchestown but paid for them in subsequent starts though a clear round could see him causing an upset. Andy Dufresne arrives in excellent form having won both starts over fences and was only a couple of lengths behind Latest Exhibition in a Grade 2 hurdle at Navan just over a year ago.
Andy Dufresne (IRE) 8-15fav (11-2) Soon disputed lead, led from 2nd, pressed and jumped left 2 out, jumped left again last, stayed on well under pressure to assert run-in, won at Navan 2m 1f (1) sft in Dec beating Embittered (11-2) by 3l, 3 ran.
Assemble 22-1 (11-12) Prominent, dropped to 4th before 5th, progress at 10th where left 2nd, dropped to 3rd and pushed along after 3 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out , mistake and fell at last, at Limerick 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec.
Asterion Forlonge (FR) 15-8 (11-3) Led, fell 1st, at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Jan.
Fils D'oudairies (FR) 25-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, left 2nd from 1st, almost on terms from before 2 out, pushed along before straight, soon under pressure, no impression run-in, kept on without matching winner, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Envoi Allen (12-0) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Jan.
Janidil (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, slight mistake at 6th, left 4th at 10th, not fluent 3 out, headway in 3rd before 2 out, no impression on leaders after 2 out, bad mistake at last, no extra, 3rd of 5, 16 1/2l behind Colreevy (11-5) at Limerick 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec.
Latest Exhibition (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Towards rear, took closer order before 6th, 3rd after 7th, bumped at 9th, improved to 2nd after 10th, challenged 2 out, every chance at last, ridden and kept on, not match winner, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Monkfish (11-12) at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Macgiloney (IRE) 11-1 (10-13) Slight mistake 1st, mid-division, 10th after 3rd, not fluent 10th, 14th after 11th, slight mistake 5 out, some headway and kept on same pace straight, 9th of 19, 28l behind Dromore Lad (10-10) at Cork 3m 4f hcp sft in Nov.
Monkfish (IRE) 1-2fav (11-12) Led narrowly, headed before 3rd, not fluent at 4th, closed at 7th, jumped right and bumped rival at 9th, led at 10th, 2 lengths clear 3 out, pressed 2 out, ridden and kept on best run-in, won at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Dec beating Latest Exhibition (11-12) by 3l, 6 ran.
Conflated (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Chased leader, 4th after 7th, not fluent at 10th, 3rd at 11th, no impression after 2 out, weakened to 4th before last where left moderate 3rd, tailed off, 3rd of 6, dist behind Monkfish (11-12) at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Dec.
