waited with, slight mistake 8th, moderate 7th 4 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace
chased leaders, 3rd from before 6 out, closed travelling well from before 2 out, challenged approaching last, soon led, stayed on well to draw clear closing stages
waited with early, soon chased leaders, 4th 4 out, closed from before 2 out, ridden to challenge in 2nd before last, no extra and kept on same pace run-in
tracked leaders, slight mistake 6 out, ridden next, moderate 6th 4 out, soon no extra, pulled up before last
waited with, slight mistake 9th, closer in 5th 4 out, soon struggling, kept on same pace
led and disputed, jumped left 6th, headed and no extra in 3rd from before last, kept on same pace
waited with, struggling in last from before 4 out, soon no extra
close up and disputed lead, slight mistake 9th, niggled along in 2nd before 2 out, no extra in 4th approaching last, kept on same pace
Carried over from earlier in the week, the ground will be extremely testing. Follow The Plan won this a year ago and produced an even better performance to land the Betfred Bowl at Aintree. He must be a major threat now back on form though he was beaten eight lengths by QUEL ESPRIT in the Hennessy at Leopardstown and the winner looks another for Willie Mullins. His earlier jumping problems appear to have been ironed out and he had Roberto Goldback behind at Leopardstown. Rubi Light looks a major threat as he had Apt Approach beaten a long way in the Grade 2 Red Mills at Gowran in February and Roberto Goldback beaten 10 lengths when landing the same race last year. He's mainly untested at this trip but he'll love the ground and looks certain to go well. Quantitativeeasing was a big disappointment in a Cheltenham handicap last time and will need to raise his game to get involved.
Apt Approach (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Held up mid-division, pecked 15th, one pace and no impression, 8th of 26, 39l behind Always Waining (10-11) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd.
China Rock (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Led, joined from 3rd, headed 4 out and soon weakened quickly, moderate 4th from 2 out, 4th of 6, 24l behind Sizing Europe (11-12) at Punchestown 2m chs G1 (1) gs.
Follow The Plan (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Held up in touch on inside, smooth headway to track leaders 4 out, challenged 2 out, led between last 2, 4 lengths clear last, kept on, won at Aintree 3m 1f Grade 1 chs (1) gs beating Burton Port (11-7) by 3l, 11 ran.
Magnanimity (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, 8th halfway, 6th at 14th, headway into 2nd 5 out, ridden and no extra entering straight, 5th and mistake 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Lion Na Bearnai (10-5) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Ext hcp ch gs, 29 ran.
Quantitativeeasing (IRE) 11-2fav (11-12) Mid-division on inside, headway 12th, outpaced 15th, 8th and hard driven 3 out, kept on same pace, never on terms, 7th of 19, 23l behind Alfie Sherrin (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Quel Esprit (FR) 5-4fav (11-10) Prominent, led from 4th, travelling best early straight and asserted before last, kept on under pressure run-in and reduced advantage final 100 yards, won at Leopardstown 3m Grade 1 chs (1) gs in Feb beating Roberto Goldback (11-10) by 2l, 7 ran.
Roberto Goldback (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) Mid-division, struggling 13th, behind when mistake 15th, no danger after, 8th of 11, 31l behind Follow The Plan (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f Grade 1 chs (1) gs.
Rubi Light (FR) 13-2 (11-10) Prominent, challenged 7th, led next until 12th, led 4 out, headed next, 4th and beaten after 2 out, no extra flat, 5th of 12, 8l behind Riverside Theatre (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 1 chs (1) gd in Mar.
