held up towards rear, progress into 5th at 11th, fell 4 out
held up towards rear, hampered 4 out, ridden and no extra 3 out, moderate 5th 2 out and no impression
settled mid-division, 5th halfway, slight mistake 6 out, ridden in 4th entering straight, no impression 2 out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, improved to lead after 6th, headed 8th, 3rd halfway, improved to challenge 3 out, ridden to dispute before 2 out, kept on, 2nd last, no extra run-in and kept on same pace
held up in mid-division, 6th halfway, 7th and hampered 11th, closer in 5th 4 out, close 3rd next, ridden to dispute 2 out, edged ahead last, kept on strongly run-in to assert
chased leaders, slightly slow and reminder 6th, 4th halfway, jumped right 11th, ridden to challenge 4 out, no extra before next where mistake, weakened and pulled up before last
led, headed after 6th, regained lead 8th, strongly pressed from 4 out, ridden and disputed before 2 out, under pressure in 3rd after 2 out, no extra before last, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 2nd halfway, ridden in 3rd 4 out, no extra next, weakening in moderate 6th when fell 2 out
A brilliant race in prospect. Boston Bob beat a strong line-up a year ago though this looks even tougher. Willie Mullins also runs On His Own, who was the better fancied of the pair that day but ran poorly, and the Gold Cup runner-up DJAKADAM (NAP). The latter produced an outstanding performance for a six-year-old at Cheltenham where he looked like winning after the last. Dropping back in trip won't be a problem and he can again take car of Road To Riches, who gets better with every run and was only a couple of lengths behind and will also be suited by the less demanding track and shorter trip. Don Cossack didn't quite get the run of the race in the Ryanair but showed his true worth in the Grade 1 Melling Chase at Aintree where he had 26l to spare over Cue Card. He has to prove himself against genuine stayers over this trip but Paul Carberry is likely to nurse him round. Ballynagour ran the race of his life when beaten a head by Silviniaco Conti in the Betfred Bowl and a similar level of form should see him in contention.
Ballynagour (IRE) 18-1 (11-7) Held up in last pair, closed from 13th, blundered 4 out, went 1 length 2nd last, stayed on well, closing on winner towards finish, just held, 2nd of 7, hd behind Silviniaco Conti (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f chs G1 (1) gs.
Boston Bob (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Held up behind, struggling 15th, never a threat, weakened before 5 out,, 10th of 16, 42l behind Coneygree (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs G1 (1) sft in Mar.
Cue Card 6-1 (11-10) Led, joined 5 out, headed when mistake 3 out, soon ridden, one pace next, no chance with winner after, 2nd of 10, 26l behind Don Cossack (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f chs G1 (1) gd.
Djakadam (FR) 10-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway to track leaders 17th, driven to chase leading pair after 3 out, one pace next, ridden and stayed to take 2nd and every chance final 110 yards, held towards finish, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Coneygree (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs G1 (1) sft in Mar.
Don Cossack (GER) 3-1fav (11-10) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd at 8th, challenged 5 out, led 3 out, drew readily clear from 2 out, driven out, comfortably, won at Aintree 2m 4f chs G1 (1) gd beating Cue Card (11-10) by 26l, 10 ran.
On His Own (IRE) 9-10fav (11-10) Disputed lead early, soon led, not fluent 5th and headed briefly, soon led again, joined into straight, led 3 out, clear 2 out, stayed on well from before last, easily,, won at Cork 3m chs Grade 3 (1) beating Roi Du Mee (11-12) by 15l, 5 ran.
Road To Riches (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Led to after 1st, tracked winner to 9th, remained close up in 3rd, went 2nd again 3 out, soon ridden and 2 lengths down, kept on and every chance flat, no extra when lost 2nd final 100 yards, 3rd of 16, 3 1/2l behind Coneygree (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs G1 (1) sft in Mar.
The Giant Bolster 33-1 (11-10) Mid-division, lost place and towards rear 7th, reminder after 10th, struggling 14th (water), soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Coneygree (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs G1 (1) sft in Mar, 16 ran.
Flemenstar (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) Disputed lead, not fluent 1st and 4th, led from 7th, joined briefly 4 out, ridden after 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 8, 20l behind Felix Yonger (11-10) at Navan 2m 4f chs G2 (1) hvy in Mar.
