tracked leaders in 4th, pushed along briefly at 7th, went 3rd after 4 out, soon pushed along, ridden in moderate 2nd entering straight, closer in 3rd at last, soon 2nd, kept on same pace inside final furlong
tracked leaders in 3rd early, dropped to 4th after 4 out, ridden in 4th 2 out, soon weakened
led, headed after 4th, 2nd and bad mistake 3 out, 3rd and ridden next, soon no impression on leaders, 4th and slight mistake at last, went moderate 3rd inside final furlong
held up in last, went moderate 4th and pushed along entering straight, headway to chase leader in 2nd before last, ridden to lead after last, stayed on well inside final furlong
tracked leader in close 2nd, led after 4th, went clear after 2 out, ridden and reduced lead approaching last, headed after last, weakened to 4th run-in
Killultagh Vic won this last year before reverting to fences and running in four Grade 1's including the Gold Cup. His stable companion BACHASSON is another who ran in the Cheltenham classic having completed a hat-trick over fences earlier. He was a Grade 3 winner over hurdles in his day and won't be eight until tomorrow so just gets the vote. Scarpeta, the third of the Willie Mullins trio, comes here with a fitness advantage over his stable companions after overcoming mistakes to win easily over 3m at Clonmel while Darasso, a dual Listed winner over hurdles in France, is one to note for the future though he'll be back over fences before long. De Plotting Shed has managed to win four times over hurdles and is no forlorn hope with his allowance.
Darasso (FR) (10-10) 6th of 16, 9 1/2l behind Farlow Des Mottes (10-5) at Auteuil 2m 5f hcp hvy in Apr.
Killultagh Vic (IRE) (10-10) at Auteuil 3m 1f (1) gd in May.
Scarpeta (FR) 1-2fav (11-6) Settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, slight mistakes 5 out and 4 out, travelled well to dispute before 2 out, led and slight mistake 2 out, pushed out to assert before last, comfortably, won at Clonmel 3m Yielding in Dec beating Robbin'hannon (11-6) by 8l, 7 ran.
Bachasson (FR) 33-1 (11-10) Held up, fell 2nd, at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) sft in Mar.
De Plotting Shed (IRE) 22-1 (11-8) In rear, headway travelling well into 11th 3 out, ridden from next, weakened, 13th of 20, 16 1/4l behind Salty Boy (10-7) at Navan 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Dec.
