always rear, soon detached, well behind when jumped left 6th, no extra, completely tailed off
tracked leaders, pecked 1st, 4th halfway, headway into 2nd after 2 out and pushed along to lead approaching last, ridden and drew clear run-in, kept on well
tracked leaders, headway to lead halfway, pushed along after 2 out and headed approaching last, ridden and no impression on winner run-in
led early, tracked leaders and 3rd halfway, went 2nd 3 out, challenged when mistake next, soon pushed along and 4th approaching last, ridden and no impression run-in, kept on one pace
held up towards rear, 6th halfway, headway before 2 out and 3rd early straight, pushed along and no impression early run-in, no extra
tracked leader, slight mistake 1st, mistake 5th, 5th halfway, slight mistake 4 out, pushed along and no impression in 6th after 2 out, no extra
prominent and led before 2nd, headed halfway, 2nd and slight mistake 5 out, pushed along and no impression after 2 out, 5th and no extra before last, weakened
CHACON POUR SOIR won this in 2020, one of five Grade 1 victories in his career. He had Captain Guinness a long way behind when easily landing the Dublin Chase here in February but then fell at Cheltenham and had to play second-best to Energumene in the Champion Chase at Punchestown. Stablemate Blue Lord has only been beaten once in six starts over fences and won two Grade 1 races. He has a fitness advantage having beaten Tornado Flyer at Clonmel last month and is an obvious danger. Gentleman De Mee, another from the yard, beat Edwardstone at Aintree in April but was well beaten by the latter in the Tingle Creek earlier this month.
Andy Dufresne (IRE) 2-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along after 3 out, no impression after 2 out and jumped left last, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 4, 3 3/4l behind Captain Guinness (11-10) at Navan 2m (1) Yielding in Nov.
Blue Lord (FR) 5-6fav (11-8) Held up, pushed along in 4th entering straight, headway on outer to challenge 2 out, soon led, ridden and kept on well, all out, won at Clonmel 2m 4f (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov beating Tornado Flyer (11-12) by nk, 4 ran.
Captain Guinness (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Led after 1st, pushed along 2 out and soon asserted, ridden and kept on run-in, reduced advantage closing stages, won at Navan 2m (1) Yielding in Nov beating Riviere D'etel (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
Chacun Pour Soi (FR) 5-2 (11-12) Led at sedate early pace, not fluent at 2nd, pressed at 7th, headed 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, ridden and headed before last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 5, 8 1/2l behind Energumene (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Coeur Sublime (IRE) 5-2 (11-1) In touch, switched to inner and improved to 2nd at 3rd, took closer order after 3 out, strongly challenged leader 2 out, soon led, mistake and fell last, at Naas 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Gentleman De Mee (FR) 10-1 (11-10) Led until pushed along and headed before 3 out, lost 2nd 3 out, soon ridden and plugged on in well held 4th, 4th of 6, 16 1/4l behind Edwardstone (11-10) at Sandown 2m (1) gs in Dec.
Jeremys Flame (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, not fluent at 1st, mistake at 2nd, 3rd at 3rd, took closer order 2 out, closed in 2nd before last where left in lead and clear, kept on, won at Naas 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Nov beating Gallant John Joe (10-11) by dist, 5 ran.
