with leader, hit 8th, hit 10th, led 4 out, headed before 2 out, weakened before last
tracked leaders in 3rd, hit 10th, went 2nd after 4 out, challenged 3 out, led after 2 out, pushed out to go clear run-in
held up towards rear, mistake 5th, headway before 4 out, hit 3 out, one pace and no impression
behind, weakened from 5 out, soon tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
held up mid-division, weakened before 4 out
led, mistake and headed 4 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division and keen, ridden and weakened before 3 out
in rear, mistake 10th, went 3rd and headway after 4 out, led before 2 out, headed soon after, ridden before last, kept on and always well held by winner
Kauto Stone and Wishfull Thinking were both early fallers when Finian's Rainbow announced his arrival on the big stage by edging out reigning champion Sizing Europe in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham last month. The worry here, however, is the extra half-mile as he's never raced beyond 2m1f over fences, though did appear to stay the trip over hurdles. ALBERTAS RUN has been a terrific servant to connections and won this in 2010. He was no match for an in-form Master Minded last year but still has the beating of Kalahari King on that run and, along with Forpadydeplasterer, Ferdy Murphy's charge was also behind at Cheltenham last month when Jonjo O'Neill's gelding was just touched off by Riverside Theatre in an attempt to win the Ryanair three years running. Pure Faith was beaten here in the autumn by the selection and Poquelin also looks held on the form book.
Albertas Run (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Led until 4th, led 7th, soon headed, led 12th, headed 4 out, led 3 out, driven and hung right flat, headed final 50 yards, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Riverside Theatre (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 1 chs (1) gd in Mar.
Finian's Rainbow (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Tracked leading pair, left 2nd at 4th, closed on leader 2 out (usual 3 out), every chance when slightly bumped bypassing omitted last, soon ridden, stayed on to lead final 50 yards, won at Cheltenham 2m Grade 1 chs (1) gd in Mar beating Sizing Europe (11-10) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Forpadydeplasterer (IRE) 40-1 (11-10) In touch in mid-division, hit 6th, lost place 11th, hit 13th, 5th when hit 2 out, no extra last, weakened flat, 6th of 12, 16l behind Riverside Theatre (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 1 chs (1) gd in Mar.
Kalahari King (FR) 40-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, mistakes 12th and 13th, weakened next, 9th of 12, 47l behind Riverside Theatre (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 1 chs (1) gd in Mar.
Kauto Stone (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Held up, fell 1st, in a race won by Finian's Rainbow (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m Grade 1 chs (1) gd in Mar, 8 ran.
Poquelin (FR) 8-1 (11-5) In touch on inside, tracked winner 6th, lost place 4 out, regained 2nd next, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 17l behind The Giant Bolster (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Jan.
Pure Faith (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, outpaced before next, weakened before last, 6th of 11, 23l behind Lava Lamp (11-2) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Wishfull Thinking 16-1 (11-10) Led until fell heavily 4th, in a race won by Finian's Rainbow (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m Grade 1 chs (1) gd in Mar, 8 ran.
