held up towards rear, ridden before 2 out, 13th before last, stayed on run-in
mid-division, reminders 1st, ridden towards rear 3 out, no extra
held up towards rear, progress 2 out, ridden into 7th before last, 5th last, kept on well run-in, 2nd at line
always towards rear, ridden and no impression after 3 out, no extra next, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, ridden to progress 2 out, 11th before last, kept on one pace
settled behind leaders, 9th halfway, closer in 4th after 3 out, ridden and no extra entering straight
mid-division, 9th before 2 out, ridden into 6th before last, no impression when mistake last, kept on one pace
soon led, joined 3 out, headed before 2 out, soon no extra
soon mid-division, ridden and no extra 2 out, pulled up before last
mid-division early, soon towards rear, pushed along briefly before 6th, ridden and no impression before 2 out
mid-division, progress 2 out, ridden into 4th entering straight, 2nd and pressed leader before last, disputed last, kept on without matching winner run-in, lost 2nd at line
settled behind leaders, 8th halfway, improved to challenge 2 out, soon disputed, ridden in narrow lead before last, joined last, kept on best run-in, all out
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and no extra before 2 out
chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden before 2 out, disputed after 2 out, no extra in 3rd before last, kept on one pace
settled behind leaders, 7th halfway, mistake 7th, ridden and no extra before 2 out, pulled up before last
chased leaders, 5th halfway, improved to dispute 3 out, ridden and headed entering straight, soon no extra
mid-division, jumped right 2nd and reminders, ridden towards rear after 3 out, soon no extra, pulled up before last
mid-division best, ridden and no impression 2 out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, some progress into mid-division after 3 out, ridden and no impression entering straight, kept on one pace
disputed early, soon chased leader, 2nd halfway, disputed after 3 out, bad mistake 2 out, soon headed and no extra
held up towards rear, progress before 2 out, ridden into 7th entering straight, 4th last, kept on same pace run-in
mid-division, progress 2 out, ridden into 5th entering straight, 3rd and no impression on leaders last, kept on same pace run-in
The shortest priced winner in nine years has been 10/1. The Gatechecker has been in excellent form over hurdles and fences and was always travelling nicely when scoring over this trip at Limerick in October. Pleasant Company was last seen finishing runner-up in the Grand National and hasn't run over hurdles since 2015 but he's on a 26lb lower mark so has to be considered. A Great View was beaten a short-head in this last year and ended the campaign beating a huge field in a similar contest at Punchestown. He has a 6lb rise to contend with plus a long absence so the vote goes to THERMISTOCLES. Joseph O'Brien's charge has only had five starts over timber, winning a competitive handicap at Clonmel over this trip last time, and can make enough progress to beat this strong field. Walk To Freedom has never raced over this far but won going away over an extended 2m6f at Navan before finding 2m4f too short there next time.
Sire Du Berlais (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Mid-division, 6th 3 out, ridden in 5th next, no impression, 8th of 13, 15l behind De Name Escapes Me (10-12) at Naas 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Nov.
Tigris River (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) In rear, ran in snatches and slight mistake 3rd, mistake 5th, progress to be in touch with leaders on outer entering straight, no impression from 3 out, 9th of 13, 35 1/4l behind Walk To Freedom (10-12) at Navan 2m 7f hcp gd in Nov.
Walk To Freedom (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Rear of mid-division on inner, 13th 3 out, soon ridden, moderate 7th at last, kept on without threatening, 4th of 20, 3 1/4l behind Salty Boy (10-7) at Navan 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Monksland (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along in 3rd after 3 out, no impression approaching last where slight mistake, no extra, last of 4, 13 1/4l behind Apple's Jade (11-5) at Navan 2m 4f (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
A Great View (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Rear of mid-division, headway 3 out, 5th next, ridden in 3rd entering straight, 2nd at last, disputed lead inside final furlong, stayed on well, led at line, won at Punchestown 3m hcp Yielding - Soft in Apr beating Ainsi Va La Vie (10-10) by shd, 25 ran.
Robbin'hannon (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Settled behind leaders early, 3rd halfway, improved to dispute before 2 out, ridden in 2nd and mistake 2 out, no impression on winner before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Scarpeta (11-6) at Clonmel 3m Yielding in Dec.
Plinth (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Rear of mid-division, slight mistake 6th, closer in 12th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, moderate 8th and bad mistake at last, 15th of 20, 16 1/2l behind Salty Boy (10-7) at Navan 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Prince Garyantle (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 7, 35l behind Scarpeta (11-6) at Clonmel 3m Yielding in Dec.
Dorans River (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 5th after 2nd, soon 4th, 3rd after 3 out, no extra and pulled up approaching 2 out, at Clonmel 3m hcp gd in Nov.
Pleasant Company (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Always prominent, tracked leader 14th, led 19th, hit and headed narrowly 2 out, 5 lengths down and outpaced before elbow, ridden flat, rallied and gaining on tired winner final 50 yards, just failed, 2nd of 38, hd behind Tiger Roll (10-13) at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Apr.
Thermistocles (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Waited with, 6th after 2nd, 5th approaching 9th, headway after 3 out, challenged straight on outer, on terms before 2 out, soon led, asserted and stayed on well run-in, won at Clonmel 3m hcp gd in Nov beating Odit (9-13) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Cuneo (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Close up, 4th after 5th, under pressure approaching straight, dropped to 5th and ridden before last, one paced, 5th of 18, 13l behind Tornado Flyer (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn gd in Dec.
Forever Gold (IRE) 50-1 (10-5) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden 3 out, weakened, 14th of 20, 16 1/2l behind Salty Boy (10-7) at Navan 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Dec.
High Sparrow (IRE) 3-1jfav (10-7) Tracked leaders, 8th 3 out, soon ridden and and no impression, 7th of 13, 22 3/4l behind Walk To Freedom (10-12) at Navan 2m 7f hcp gd in Nov.
Slippery Serpent (IRE) 10-3fav (10-4) Tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd 2 out, 3rd at last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 13, 5 3/4l behind De Name Escapes Me (10-12) at Naas 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Nov.
Sweet Home Chicago (IRE) 7-1 (10-2) Held up in touch, headway to join leader on outside after 7th, lost place after 3 out, beaten when left modest 4th last, 4th of 10, 17 1/4l behind First Assignment (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Riviera Sun (IRE) 25-1 (9-10) Towards rear, 14th after 9th, weakened before 2 out, never a factor, 11th of 16, dist behind Spider Web (9-11) at Limerick 3m hcp gd in Oct.
Russian Bill (IRE) 16-1 (9-13) Towards rear, pushed along on outer entering straight, ridden after 2 out, moderate 11th at last, kept on without threatening, 6th of 20, 6l behind Salty Boy (10-7) at Navan 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Small World (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Mid-division early, well off pace in 9th at 4th, some headway from before 3 out where not fluent, soon chased leaders and one pace, 5th of 14, 28 1/2l behind Nobody Home (10-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp gd in Dec.
The Gatechecker (IRE) 9-1 (10-10) Waited with towards rear, bad mistake 1st, progress when not fluent and impeded 3 out, slight mistake 2 out, kept on well run-in without getting to front pair, 3rd of 20, 2l behind Out Sam (10-13) at Cork 3m 4f hcp Yielding in Nov.
Jack Fiasco 10-1 (9-11) Mid-division, jumped right at 1st, 9th 4 out, ridden from 3 out, headway on inner run-in, kept on without threatening, 7th of 20, 6 1/4l behind Salty Boy (10-7) at Navan 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Satoshi (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Rear of mid-division, weakened from 3 out, never a factor, 8th of 9, 23 1/4l behind Easy Game (11-2) at Navan 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Dec.
Rock De Baune (FR) 7-1 (11-1) Soon chased leaders, well off pace in 5th at 4th, kept on same pace from before straight, slight mistake last, 6th of 14, 29 1/4l behind Nobody Home (10-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp gd in Dec.
