held up in rear, smooth headway 2 out, led narrowly before last, soon ridden, kept on under pressure flat, headed final strides
mistake 2nd, in touch on inside, headway 3 out, outpaced next, weakened before last
held up towards rear on outside, headway under pressure after 2 out, chased leaders on outside before last, soon ridden, stayed on strongly flat, led final strides
held up towards rear, outpaced 2 out, never a threat
mid-division on inside, outpaced after 3 out, never able to challenge, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before last
always behind, mistake 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
tracked leader to 3rd, in touch, driven after 2 out, one pace approaching last, ridden and weakened flat
always behind, lost touch 5th, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, challenged going well 3 out, ridden to lead narrowly turning in, headed before last, weakened flat
led, driven and headed before 2 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last
towards rear, headway on outside before 2 out, driven and effort turning in, outpaced before last, soon no impression
in touch, tracked leaders 3 out, driven after next, every chance last, ridden and kept on flat, just held in 3rd near finish
mid-division, smooth headway to track leaders after 4 out, challenged after next, led briefly before last, ridden and no extra flat
raced keenly in mid-division, hampered 2nd, headway to track leader next, lost place when blundered 3 out, soon behind, pulled up before last
held up mid-division, outpaced on outside after 2 out, never on terms, weakened before last
held up behind, headway after 4 out, hampered next, chased leaders 2 out, ridden and every chance before last, one pace flat
mid-division, driven to chase leaders before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on, never pace to get on terms
in touch on outside, tracked leaders 4 out, upsides next, led narrowly before 2 out, driven and headed turning in, lost place before last, soon weakened
held up in touch, lost place 5th, soon pushed along, behind from 2 out
mid-division, tracked leaders after 4 out, in touch when hampered next, lost place 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, lost place after 3 out, behind from next, pulled up before last
mid-division, driven to chase leaders after 2 out, ridden before last, kept on, never pace to get on terms
chased leaders to after 4 out, behind next, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, driven and lost place after 2 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, outpaced after 3 out, ridden and weakened after next
NonRunner
Willie Mullins is responsible for more than a fifth of this big field but most of the money has come for Ruby Walsh’s mount URADEL (NAP). He races in last year’s winning colours and looks to have been laid out for this having had just the one recent run, a staying-on fifth over a trip too short at Leopardstown. The eight-year-old was a much-improved stayer on the Flat last summer, winning at the Galway Festival and finishing second behind a better-fancied stablemate in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket. Calie Du Mesnil has place claims along with the in-form Erick Le Rouge while Paul Nicholls had last year’s runner-up and the winner in 2015 so Kempton scorer Brio Conti is much respected, though Ballyandy has a good chance of reversing recent form on 5lb terms and has a very respectable Festival record. Joke Dancer could go well from the foot of the weights if lasting home while Vision Des Flos beat Lil Rockerfeller in the Grade 2 National Spirit at Fontwell though stablemate Highest Sun, also a recent winner, looks better treated. Gordon Elliott has three runners but none of the trio look particularly well handicapped.
Wicklow Brave 9-2 (11-1) Held up in last, pulled hard, pushed along in 4th after 2 out, ridden after last, improved into 2nd inside final furlong, kept on without threatening winner close home, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Espoir D'Allen (11-8) at Naas 2m (1) Yielding in Jan.
Vision Des Flos (FR) 7-2 (11-5) Disputed 3rd on inside, 2nd going well before 2 out, led between last 2, kept on well, driven out, won at Fontwell 2m 3f (1) gs in Feb beating If The Cap Fits (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
William Henry (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, never a factor, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Scarpeta (FR) 13-8fav (11-12) 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, 3rd of 5, 5 1/2l behind Bachasson (11-4) at Punchestown 2m 4f gd in Dec.
Farclas (FR) 7-2 (11-11) Tracked leader in 2nd, slight peck at 2nd, ridden in 4th 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, dist behind Darasso (11-1) at Gowran Park 2m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Killultagh Vic (IRE) 6-4 (11-3) Tracked leader in 2nd, disputed 2nd from 9th, ridden and dropped to last before 3 out, soon trailing and no impression, strongly pressed 3rd horse close home, last of 4, 27l behind Monalee (11-10) at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) Yielding - Soft in Feb.
Lil Rockerfeller (USA) 8-1 (11-9) Soon chasing leaders, pushed along to lead on long run before 2 out, ridden and headed between last 2, lost 2nd and no extra run-in, 3rd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Vision Des Flos (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 3f (1) gs in Feb.
Diamond Cauchois (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Mid-division, slight mistake 2nd, moderate 6th halfway, no impression from 3 out, never a factor, 6th of 12, 31l behind Faugheen (11-10) at Punchestown 3m (1) Yielding - Soft in Apr.
Cracking Smart (FR) 11-2 (11-3) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, slightly hampered 3 out and soon pushed along, ridden and no impression in 3rd before last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 6 1/4l behind Tiger Roll (11-3) at Navan 2m 5f (1) Yielding in Feb.
Monbeg Theatre (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Prominent, led 3rd, joined 2 out, headed last, stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Padleyourowncanoe (10-8) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Bleu Berry (FR) 20-1 (11-3) Rear of mid-division, 7th halfway, closer before 3 out, pushed along and no impression when slight mistake 2 out, soon no extra, 7th of 11, dist behind Presenting Percy (11-8) at Gowran Park 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Ballyandy 7-2fav (11-12) Tracked leaders on inside, switched left going well on long run to 2 out, every chance last, 3rd and one pace run-in, 3rd of 10, 4 1/4l behind Brio Conti (11-5) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Brio Conti (FR) 25-1 (11-5) Held up in last pair, headway on heels of leaders approaching 2 out, close 2nd at the last, ridden to lead and hung left run-in, stayed on, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Feb beating Honest Vic (10-0) by hd, 10 ran.
Dancing On My Own (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Led, joined 3 out, ridden and headed entering straight, dropped to 4th before last, no impression, 4th of 7, 7 1/4l behind Klassical Dream (11-9) at Leopardstown 2m (1) gd in Feb.
Burbank (IRE) 8-13fav (10-12) Not fluent on occasions, chased rival pair, reminders after 5 out, headway into 2nd before next, switched inside before 3 out, soon readily outpaced by winner, no chance after, 2nd of 3, 10l behind Clondaw Castle (10-12) at Leicester 2m (3) gf in Jan.
Canardier (FR) 6-4fav (11-3) Held up in rear, not fluent 5th, headway approaching 6th, mistake 2 out, went 2nd last bend, ridden to lead flat, ran on well, readily, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f (2) gd in Oct beating Go Another One (11-6) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Apple's Shakira (FR) 5-2fav (11-12) Mid-division, under pressure 3 out, soon beaten, pulled up before next, at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Knight In Dubai (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Held up in rear and keen, headway before 2 out, close 3rd 2 out, soon hung badly left, went 2nd final 100 yards, strong challenge close home, just failed, 2nd of 8, shd behind I'm A Game Changer (11-6) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Highest Sun (FR) 15-8fav (11-10) Chased leaders on inside, led between last 2, clear when jumped left last, comfortably, won at Chepstow 2m hcp (3) gs in Feb beating Casa Tall (11-6) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Tully East (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Waited with and raced in 15th early, some headway and not much room towards inner after final hurdle, kept on same pace without threatening straight, 11th of 19, 8 3/4l behind Off You Go (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Feb.
Eragon De Chanay (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Mid-division, chased leaders after 3 out, went 2nd after next, soon ridden, led after last, edged right, kept on well, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Feb beating Townshend (11-6) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Uradel (GER) 9-2fav (10-8) Waited with and raced in 12th early, headway and effort straight, kept on same pace without threatening inside final furlong, 5th of 19, 4 1/2l behind Off You Go (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Feb.
Erick Le Rouge (FR) 7-2fav (11-12) With leaders, led 3rd, strongly pressed and hit last, narrowly headed rallied gamely to lead again towards finish, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Feb beating Burrows Edge (11-8) by nk, 13 ran.
Calie Du Mesnil (FR) 8-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, 7th 3 out, ridden and headway into 4th at last, improved into 2nd and strongly pressed winner inside final furlong, kept on same pace close home, 2nd of 12, nk behind Dallas Des Pictons (10-12) at Leopardstown 3m hcp gd in Feb.
Oscar Knight (IRE) 9-1 (10-10) Mid-division best, ridden and no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace, 7th of 13, 17 1/2l behind Cap York (10-12) at Punchestown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Feb.
Joke Dancer 10-3 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, led before 2 out, clear before last, won at Newcastle 2m hcp (2) gs in Feb beating Albert's Back (11-12) by 4l, 7 ran.
