in rear, closed 2 out where slight mistake, disputed 3rd at last and no impression, kept on
raced in 2nd, not fluent 12th, pushed along briefly after 5 out, not fluent 3 out, 3rd approaching straight, pushed along and dropped to last 2 out, no impression
raced in 3rd, 2nd approaching straight, challenged 2 out, disputed 3rd at last and no impression, kept on
held up in 4th, improved to challenge 2 out, edged right and led before last, stayed on well run-in
led, headed before last, kept on without matching winner run-in
DON POLI belongs to Gigginstown so Bryan Cooper gets the ride on the very impressive RSA Chase winner. A likely contender for next year's Gold Cup, he won with so much authority at Cheltenham that it will be a shock if he's beaten though Apache Stronghold gave him a race in the Grade 1 Topaz at Leopardstown in December. Noel Meade's charge was a respectable runner-up to the brilliant Vautour in the JLT at Cheltenham with Valseur Lido a short-head behind. The latter is also in Gigginstown's ownership and Ruby Walsh will be keen to beat his stablemate, though his overall form just falls short. Meade also has Wounded Warrior entered but he'd want the ground to deteriorate to get into contention and UK raider Irish Cavalier doesn't look up to this level as yet.
Apache Stronghold (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, slight mistake 1st, fell 9th, in a race won by Gilgamboa (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f nov chs G1 (1), 8 ran.
Don Poli (IRE) 13-8fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, headway into 2nd 4 out, led before 2 out, ridden last, drew clear flat, stayed on strongly, won at Cheltenham 3m nov chs G1 (1) gd in Mar beating Southfield Theatre (11-4) by 6l, 8 ran.
Irish Cavalier (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, fell 5th, in a race won by Saphir Du Rheu (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f nov chs G1 (1) gd, 9 ran.
Valseur Lido (FR) 4-1 (11-10) Held up, slight mistake 2nd, 7th halfway, ridden in 6th entering straight, under pressure in 5th 3 out, no impression in 6th next, tired and mistake last, weakened, 6th of 8, 36l behind Gilgamboa (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f nov chs G1 (1).
Wounded Warrior (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, outpaced after 4 out, chased leaders under pressure 2 out, soon ridden, chased leading pair briefly last, stayed on under pressure flat, took 3rd again near finish, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Don Poli (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
