held up behind leaders, slight mistake 6th, 4th halfway, ridden after 2 out, no impression in 4th before last, kept on same pace to go 3rd closing stages of run-in
made all, slight mistake 6th, almost joined 2 out, soon advantage again, ridden and pressed before last, asserted approaching last, kept on well run-in
held up early, slight mistake 7th, closer in 3rd halfway, rear after 2 out, ridden and no impression before last, kept on one pace
chased leader, 2nd halfway, improved to challenge and almost on terms when mistake 2 out, soon ridden in 2nd, pressed leader briefly before last, no extra approaching last, dropped to 4th run-in, kept on one pace
held up towards rear, closer after 3 out, ridden in 3rd after 2 out, disputed 2nd last, 2nd and kept on run-in, no impression on winner
Delta Work beat Kemboy one-and-a-half-lengths in this last year having beaten the same horse in the Savills Chase earlier. The latter had a nice pay-day when runner-up to A Plus Tard, with Melon a close third, in this year's Saviils Chase when both Delta Work and MINELLO INDO failed to finish. The latter, runner-up to Champ in the RSA at Cheltenham, is a dual Grade 1 winner over hurdles and though taking a crashing fall last time can put that behind him and get back on the winning trail.
Delta Work (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Towards rear, stumbled and unseated rider 9th, at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Kemboy (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Led, joined briefly 3rd and 4th, headed 6 out, closer 2 out and pushed along to lead again approaching last, ridden and kept on run-in, headed closing stages, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind A Plus Tard (11-12) at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Melon 25-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, headway to lead 6 out, slight mistake 2 out, pushed along and headed approaching last, ridden and kept on run-in, 3rd and no impression closing stages, 3rd of 14, 2l behind A Plus Tard (11-12) at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Minella Indo (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 4th when fell 8th, at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Dec.
The Storyteller (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Towards rear, not fluent 2nd, slight mistake 3 out, pushed along after next and 5th entering straight, no impression before last, ridden and kept on well run-in to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Flooring Porter (11-12) at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Dec.