in rear, slight mistake 4th, jumped slightly right at times, 5th at 7th, under pressure in last again from 2 out, soon no extra
chased leaders, a little keen, soon 3rd, kept on same pace under pressure from before last
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, soon 4th, slight mistake 5th, pushed along approaching straight, soon no impression, fell last
held up, soon raced in 5th, not fluent 6th, last when bad mistake 7th, pushed along in moderate 5th from 2 out and no impression, left distant 4th and hampered at last
raced in 2nd, on terms from before 3rd, soon led, mistake 5th, went on 3 out, stayed on well run-in, reduced lead closing stages but always in command
led, joined from before 3rd, soon headed, raced in 2nd after, not go with winner from 3 out, under pressure from next, pecked at last, kept on well without threatening run-in
No surprise that Willie Mullins has a terrific record in this and runs Bellshill and Bleu Et Rouge. The former is preferred given he’s a Grade 1 winning hurdler who landed a Grade 2 chase at Limerick last time and is currently one of the favourites for the RSA Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham. The latter beat Bellshill in the Deloitte here on last year’s card but his jumping let him down over these fences last month having made a winning chasing debut here before that. Connections have decided to give Cheltenham a miss this year with OUR DUKE but the latter beat Disko and A Toi Phil to win a Grade 1 chase over 3m here at the end of last year. That looks the strongest form on offer and Jessica Harrington’s charge gets the vote with Balko Des Flos having plenty to find in this company.
A Toi Phil (FR) 7-2fav (10-13) Held up, 13th early, progress and hampered entering straight, stayed on well run-in to lead near line, won at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp gd in Jan beating Stellar Notion (10-9) by nk, 18 ran.
Balko Des Flos (FR) 10-3 (11-2) Tracked leaders, soon 3rd, 2nd 3 out travelling smoothly, no impression at last in 3rd, soon no extra, 3rd of 8, 30 3/4l behind Anibale Fly (11-2) at Naas 3m (1) Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Bellshill (IRE) 4-9fav (11-4) Chased leaders in 3rd, good progress to challenge on inner before 2 out and soon led, kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Limerick 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec beating Haymount (11-4) by 3 1/4l, 5 ran.
Bleu Et Rouge (FR) 15-8fav (11-12) Soon raced in 3rd, mistake 2nd, mistake and unseated rider next, at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) gd in Jan.
Disko (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Mid-division, slight mistake 8th, progress 11th and led 4 out, strongly pressed approaching last and headed run-in, under pressure and kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 1l behind Our Duke (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Our Duke (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, progress to dispute after 7th, mistake 11th, headed 4 out, slight mistake 2 out and dropped to 4th, progress to challenge last, under pressure and kept on well run-in, led close home, won at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Dec beating Coney Island (11-10) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
