in touch, headway on outside, chasing leaders approaching 12th, went 2nd 13th, led 16th, driven and headed last, soon dropped to 3rd, rallied into well held 2nd again final 100 yards
towards rear, no chance when blundered 4 out, pulled up before next
never travelled and soon towards rear, pushed along and struggling after 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up and behind, headway approaching 17th, soon chasing leaders, pushed along and weakening when blundered 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, pushed along and headway approaching 4 out, chasing leaders when stumbled next, one pace and no impression when slightly hampered 2 out, plugged on, no chance with leading trio
chased leaders, weakened before 17th, last before 4 out, clambered over 3 out and pulled up
towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 17th
held up in mid-division, headway into 2nd approaching 17th, went right 3 out, ridden before next, led last, stayed on well, driven out
towards rear, only 9th jumping 2 out, plugged on run-in, no threat
held up towards rear, steady headway before 3 out, went modest 4th at the last, kept on run-in but no chance with leading trio
chased leader until 5th, chased leaders, jumped slowly 12th, weakened before 15th, behind and pulled up before 17th
led, ridden and headed 16th, weakened rapidly, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, crept closer approaching 17th, pushed along in 5th before 4 out, ridden and no impression when blundered 2 out, weakened into poor 8th when blundered last
towards rear, blundered 6th, headway before 17th, chasing leaders before 4 out, keeping on when blundered badly next, driven and no impression soon after, modest 4th when blundered last, weakened run-in
mid-division, towards rear 16th, mistake next, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, driven along before 4 out, weakened before next
towards rear, struggling in last pair when blundered 17th, pulled up before next
chased leaders, went 2nd 5th until hit 13th, went 2nd again 16th until approaching next, chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, behind and pulled up before next
always front rank, 3rd 4 out, driven between horses to challenge between last 2, every chance last, went well held 2nd soon after, no extra and lost 2nd final 100 yards
Triolo D'alene and Rocky Creek, first and second 12 months ago, lock horns again but both are higher in the weights. The latter arrives off the back of a second in a Grade 1, however, and should win their personal battle today. Djakadam comes here with a big reputation but he has his stamina to prove and five-year-olds rarely figure in this. Many Clouds and What A Warrior need to improve again to get involved and the trip may be a problem for Ballynagour but Monbeg Dude and Midnight Prayer have bags of stamina and could sneak into the frame. Merry King is another with each-way claims while Fingal Bay is a class act over hurdles and potentially well treated if he takes to fences second time around. Unioniste is another with a shout and Davy Russell is a significant booking for The Druids Nephew but SMAD PLACE (NAP) went very close to landing the RSA Chase in March and second-season chasers do well in this. The grey was also a very useful stayer over hurdles so expect Denis O'Regan to be playing him late here - he gets the nod.
Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Pecked and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Hadrian's Approach (11-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr, 19 ran.
Triolo D'Alene (FR) 16-1 (11-6) Mid-division, struggling and pulled up before 22nd (2nd bechers), in a race won by Pineau De Re (10-6) at Aintree 4m 3f hcap ch Grd 3 (1) gs in Apr, 40 ran.
Rocky Creek (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, 2nd 4 out, ridden and no impression on winner after 3 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 11l behind Road To Riches (11-10) at Down Royal 3m chs G1 (1).
Ballynagour (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, closer in 4th 4 out, ridden in 4th after 3 out, disputing 2nd from 2 out, went 2nd at last, kept on without threatening winner from last, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Sizing Europe (11-12) at Punchestown 2m chs G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Smad Place (FR) 13-2fav (11-4) Mid-division in touch, headway 15th, challenged 3 out, led before next, soon hard pressed and ridden, kept on under pressure flat, headed and no extra final 50 yards, 2nd of 15, nk behind O'Faolains Boy (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Fingal Bay (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Soon raced in 4th, 2nd approaching 2 out, dropped to moderate 3rd and no impression from before last, kept on one pace, 5th of 9, 7l behind Jetson (11-10) at Punchestown 3m hdl G1 (1) in May.
Vino Griego (FR) 33-1 (11-10) Chased winner, pushed along before 2 out, lost 2nd 2 out, chased leading pair, well held when weakened approaching the last, 7th of 15, 14l behind What A Warrior (10-6) at Ascot 3m Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd.
Many Clouds (IRE) 5-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden and ran on flat, won at Carlisle 2m 4f lst chs (1) sft beating Eduard (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Unioniste (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, reminder before 13th, tailed off from 5 out, 8th of 17, 23l behind Duke Of Lucca (10-7) at Aintree 3m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr.
Monbeg Dude (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway from 10th, mistake 3 out, every chance flat, not much room towards finish, held after, 2nd of 15, 2l behind Victors Serenade (10-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Oct.
Annacotty (IRE) 9-4fav (11-9) Led, jumped left, pushed along from 11th, bumped and headed 3 out, outpaced by leading pair after, kept on same pace, 3rd of 4, 5l behind Fox Appeal (11-9) at Kempton 2m 4f grad ch (2) sft.
What A Warrior (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Made all, strongly pressed last, stayed on gamely run in, won at Ascot 3m Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd beating Black Thunder (11-6) by 1/2l, 15 ran.
Djakadam (FR) 14-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, close up when fell 4 out, in a race won by Taquin Du Seuil (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs G1 (1) gd in Mar, 12 ran.
The Druids Nephew (IRE) 4-1fav (11-6) Mid-division, headway 4th, mistake 6th, hit 11th, switched right before not fluent 15th, mistake 18th, went 2nd before 2 out, stayed on flat, edged right towards finish, unable to challenge, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Sam Winner (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft.
Wychwoods Brook 3-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 6th, ridden to challenge flat, no impression and stayed on same pace towards finish, 3rd of 7, 2 3/4l behind River Deep (11-5) at Worcester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Midnight Prayer 8-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, mistake 14th, challenged after 18th, led before 2 out, driven and stayed on flat, held on, won at Cheltenham 4m Listed ch (1) gs in Mar beating Shotgun Paddy (11-6) by nk, 15 ran.
Via Sundown (FR) Evensfav (10-12) Tracked leaders on inside, 2nd well before 3 out, led travelling well approaching 3 out, kept on strongly, won at Exeter 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) hvy beating Ustica (10-12) by 3l, 8 ran.
Le Reve (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, headway before 5th, soon chasing leaders, led 14th, driven clear before 2 out, ran on strongly, won at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs beating Saroque (11-9) by 21l, 9 ran.
Merry King (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Chased leading pair, driven after 3 out, dropped to 4th before 2 out, went modest 3rd again before the last, 3rd of 15, 7l behind What A Warrior (10-6) at Ascot 3m Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd.
