mid-division until 4th, soon struggling in rear, never back on terms
mid-division, ridden after 12th, behind 14th, pulled up before 16th
led, mistake 14th, headed 18th, soon ridden, weakened after 20th, pulled up before 3 out
never travelling, soon well behind, pulled up before 13th
chased leaders, mistake 12th, ridden after 19th, weakened after next, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, ridden approaching 17th, weakened 18th, tailed off and pulled up before 20th
chased leader, joined leader 13th, ridden and every chance approaching 4 out, no chance with winner from 3 out, tired when stumbled last
held up, headway 16th, mistake 18th, ridden 20th, weakened 4 out
close up, not fluent 3rd, ridden after 19th, weakened 4 out
patiently ridden, behind, latched onto rear group after 16th, ridden after 20th, stayed on task, beaten horses from 3 out, never troubled leaders
chased leaders until 9th, soon dropped rear, pulled up after 16th
held up towards rear, headway 12th, ridden after 19th, went 4th approaching 4 out, weakened before 3 out, mistake 2 out
mistakes 6th and 15th, always behind
held up mid-division, headway from 17th, went 3rd 20th, soon ridden, weakened after 4 out
mid-division, headway 16th, led 18th, surged clear after 4 out, stayed on strongly, easily
jumped right throughout, mid-division, headway 16th, ridden after 19th, went badly right and weakened next, pulled up before 3 out
Nonrunner
Dante Hall has plenty going for him and is selected ahead of Badgerlaw and Arnold Layne. The Irish have enjoyed plenty of success in this contest in recent years and they have another live candidate on their hands in the shape of Dante Hall. He still has his stamina to prove but there are few concerns on that score given his performance in a heavy ground three and a half mile handicap at Punchestown where he was still staying on when falling at the second last. A subsequent impressive win in a novice chase means that he has a higher mark to contend with but, on the plus side, we know there are no real concerns with regard to his jumping. Arnold Layne has only one blip on his recent record but impressed with his jumping at Warwick last time; that was a modest race but he's only 7lbs higher and he did it well enough. He's tailor made for these contests and he looks sure to go well if striking up as good a relationship with Mick Fitzgerald as he has with Andrew Thornton. Naunton Brook should run his usual game race but Irish Raptor is his stable's first string, Le Briar Soul and McEvoy are worth a second look whilst Sound Witness is another for the short-list but of more interest is the unexposed novice Badgerlaw who has caught the eye the last twice behind Festival runners Ambobo and Pomme Tiepy. His trainer won this with a similar type in 2003 and he should run a big race but we come down, albeit marginally, in favour of his fellow countryman Dante Hall.
Naunton Brook 7-2 (10-1) Led, not fluent 1st, headed 13th, ridden approaching 17th, kept on but no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 13l behind Neptune Collonges (11-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gs in Feb.
Crystal d'Ainay (FR) 15-2 (11-7) Prominent, went 3rd approaching 4 out, left 2nd 3 out, led last, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 7f Grad Ch (2) gs in Feb beating Caribou (11-7) by 8l, 10 ran.
Sound Witness (IRE) 4-1 (10-0) Prominent, mistake 4th, led 3 out, joined before next, headed before straight, no impression when mistake last, 9th of 26, 12l behind Bellflower Boy (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-123 gs in Jan.
Flintoff (USA) 66-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, headway 5 out, soon ridden, every chance last, not quicken flat, 2nd of 16, 1l behind Miko de Beauchene (11-12) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Feb.
Royal Emperor (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Chased leaders early, mid-division 4th, behind from 12th, 10th of 13, well behind Tango Royal (10-3) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Arnold Layne (IRE) 11-8fav (11-8) Made all, jumped right on occasions, stayed on well from 2 out, won at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Feb beating Petite Margot (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Badgerlaw (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, 4th 5 out, moderate 3rd 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 11, 9l behind Pomme Tiepy (10-6) at Navan 3m nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Irish Raptor (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, mistake 10th, weakened approaching 4 out, 6th of 16, 39l behind Miko de Beauchene (11-12) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Feb.
Dante Hall (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Held up in touch, improved into 4th after halfway, left 3rd 4 out, challenged travelling well 3 out, led next, clear when eased from last, not extended, won at Navan 3m nov chs sft beating He's On His Way (11-1) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
The Dark Lord (IRE) 10-3 (11-8) Held up, in touch, chased leader 2 out, led last, ran on, won at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb beating Thistlecraft (11-1) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Vedelle (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Held up, hit 13th, weakened 5 out, tailed off when pulled up at the 17th in race won by Huka Lodge (10-8) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec, 9 ran.
Le Briar Soul (IRE) 5-2fav (11-1) Led, pulled hard, slow 5th, headed 14th, blundered 15th, soon ridden and weakened, 3rd of 7, 32l behind Sherwoods Folly (10-12) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (3) hvy in Jan.
L'Aventure (FR) 14-1 (10-1) In rear, reminder 8th, struggling from 13th, kept on from 4 out, no impression, 3rd of 16, 20l behind Miko de Beauchene (11-12) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Feb.
Model Son (IRE) 13-2 (9-13) Chased leaders until 8th, towards rear when pulled up at the 10th in race won by Maljimar (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Jan, 11 ran.
Himalayan Trail 33-1 (11-1) Held up, headway approaching 12th, ridden to lead 2 out, kept on well, won at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd beating Chickapeakray (11-4) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Mcevoy (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, led approaching 12th, headed 14th, led again 4 out, clear approaching last, ran on, won at Ludlow 3m amt hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Jan beating Stan (11-9) by 5l, 10 ran.
Opera Mundi (FR) 7-1 (11-12) In touch, reminders and lost place 9th, behind when pulled up at the 13th in race won by An Accordion (10-3) at Doncaster 3m lst hcp chs (1) gd in Jan, 20 ran.
Blue Splash (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden after 8th, weakening when mistake 14th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Miko de Beauchene (11-12) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Feb, 16 ran.
