chased leaders, pushed along from after 2nd, lost touch approaching 9th, tailed off
held up but in touch, chased winner 4th until approaching 8th, not fluent 9th, ridden and one pace from 4 out, hit last
made all, shaken up approaching 2 out, kept on well
jumped right, held up, headway to chase winner 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on but no impression from 2 out, hit last
held up, reminders 5th, behind from 8th, tailed off
jumped right, chased winner until 4th, mistake 5th, weakening when mistake 7th, tailed off when blundered badly 4 out, soon pulled up
Justified can cement his Arkle claims here and is very much the one to beat, with Celtic Son taken to chase him home ahead of the Nicholls pair Cornish Sett and Hor La Loi III. Justified was in great form over hurdles in 2005, his only defeat coming in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham after he failed to settle on the journey over. Impressive on both of his first two outings over fences at Punchestown, he got no further than the first when sent off favourite to land the Durkan New Homes Chase at Leopardstown on Boxing Day, a fall that has cost Shay Barry the ride as the owners have booked Tony McCoy to ride today. Justified's main immediate target is the Baileys Arkle at Leopardstown in three weeks time, and this should put him spot on. Celtic Son has mirrored most of Martin Pipe's stable over the past six weeks in that he has surely not shown his true form since hacking up at Wincanton in November. He gets a chance to redeem himself here with a better performance, but even so, should not be good enough to beat the selection. Neither should either of Paul Nicholls' pair Hor La Loi III, who at the age of 11 has seen better days, or Cornish Sett, although his win over Green Tango here has been advertised since by the latter. Justified is a class act and lines up as very much the one to beat.
Celtic Son (FR) 2-1fav (11-8) Prominent, hit 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, weakening when mistake last, eased flat, last of 4, well behind Exotic Dancer (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (B) gs in Dec.
Hors La Loi III (FR) 9-4jt-fav (11-3) Slowly away, behind, headway on bit after 4 out, led 3 out, soon clear, eased close home, won at Taunton 2m 3f nov chs (C) gd in Dec beating Cossack Dancer (11-3) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Justified (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Leading when blundered and unseated rider in race won by Missed That (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f nov chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Cornish Sett (IRE) 9-4 (11-8) With leader, led 2nd, not fluent and headed 4th, not fluent 7th, ridden after 8th, hit next, soon struggling, last of 4, 29l behind Voy Por Ustedes (11-2) at Warwick 2m nov chs (C) sft in Dec.
Goldseam (GER) 66-1 (11-0) In touch when fell in race won by Cruising River (11-0) at Taunton 2m 7f beg chs (D) gd in Dec, 8 ran.
Perfect Liaison 22-1 (10-8) Led to 3rd fell at the 4th in race won by Pretty Star (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (B) gd in Dec, 12 ran.
