tracked leaders, closer in 4th 5 out, ridden in 3rd 3 out, went 2nd next, no impression on winner before last, kept on same pace run-in
held up in rear, went moderate 5th after 4 out, moderate 4th 2 out, no impression
mid-division, headway into 3rd 4 out, ridden in 2nd next, dropped to 3rd and slight mistake 2 out, no extra
tracked leaders, 2nd 4 out, ridden and dropped to moderate 4th next, no impression
took keen hold and led, joined 7th, led again next, headed and mistake 10th, lost place and quickly pulled up
held up in rear, bad mistake 2nd, under pressure 6th, no impression from 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leader in 2nd, disputed lead 7th, headed next when mistake and unseated rider
tracked leaders in 5th, closer in 2nd at 9th, led next, slight mistake 3 out, soon pushed along, stayed on well run-in
in rear, no extra in moderate 5th when mistake 4 out, pulled up before next
Acapella Bourgeois won twice here earlier this year, the latter a Grade 2. He couldn't handle the step-up to Grade 1 company on his next two starts and fell on his debut for Willie Mullins here last month. This is a drop in class and he looks certain to go well. ATTRIBUTION won the Grade 3 novices' chase on this card a year ago and has continued in fine form. JJ Slevin's claim might just be enough to see off the top weight and Henry De Bromhead's charge gets the nod. Marlbrook looked a nice chasing prospect early last year but has a very long absence to overcome and though Apache Stronghold would be the form pick on his second to Vautour in the 2015 JLT at Cheltenham he was well beaten when returning from a very long break at Thurles last month and may need another run. Polidam, a stablemate of the top weight, is an intriguing entry as he won five times in France and was well supported on his debut for new connections at Punchestown in April but jumped poorly.
Acapella Bourgeois (FR) 7-4fav (11-10) Mid-division on inner, took keen hold, bad mistake 5th, fell 7th, at Navan 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Apache Stronghold (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Held up behind leaders, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 7th, pecked badly 8th, ridden and no impression 3 out, kept on one pace, slight mistake 2 out, 3rd of 4, dist behind Bachasson (11-4) at Thurles 2m 6f lst (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Fine Rightly (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Chased leader, 4th halfway, closer 4 out, ridden in 3rd after 2 out, under pressure and kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Clarcam (11-7) at Navan 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Attribution 5-2 (11-9) Tracked leader in 2nd, closed after 8th, progress to lead narrowly after 9th, strongly pressed after 2 out, soon ridden, kept on best under pressure run-in, won at Limerick 2m 4f sft in Oct beating Childrens List (11-12) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Marlbrook (IRE) 7-2fav (11-6) Led, mistake 1st and soon pulled up, at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Apr.
Flemenstar (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Led early, tracked leader and led again 4th, headed approaching 2 out, soon no impression on winner, no extra, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 12l behind Hardline (11-12) at Clonmel 2m Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Kylecrue (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Soon led, headed before 4th, 3rd at 6th, dropped to 5th 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 11, dist behind Doctor Phoenix (11-10) at Cork 2m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Polidam (FR) 7-4fav (10-6) Mid-division on inner, bad mistake 5th, pushed along in 5th and slight mistake 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, 7th of 14, 29 3/4l behind Sizing Granite (11-1) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Peoples Park (IRE) 50-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd and slightly hampered 4th, remote 5th 5 out, no impression from next, never a factor, last of 6, dist behind Ball D'arc (11-10) at Naas 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Coeur Joyeux (IRE) 15-2 (10-2) Soon tracked leaders, 4th at 6th, improved to challenge straight, gained narrow lead after 2 out, kept on well run-in to just prevail, won at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov beating Sumos Novios (11-8) by hd, 11 ran.
