held up behind, pushed along 12th, headway 5 out, went 4th before 3 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway 10th to go mid-division, chased leaders before 13th, challenged and a narrow 2nd 2 out, led last 50 yards, gamely
held up mid-division, went 4th at 9th, challenged 3 out, led narrowly before 2 out, headed last 50 yards, kept on and held towards finish
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 5th, led 7th, reminders after 5 out, headed before 2 out, ridden and no extra before last
held up behind, mistake 14th, went 5th before 3 out, headway before 2 out, went 3rd before last, kept on towards finish
led to 3rd and not fluent, with leader from 9th, mistake 14th, weakened from next
tracked leaders, lost place 6th, pushed along before 14th, weakened before 4 out
with leader, led 3rd, headed 7th, soon niggled and quickly lost place and dropped to rear 8th, tailed off 10th, pulled up after next
Silviniaco Conti was just starting to send out a few distress signals when falling three out in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham. The Giant Bolster went on to finish fourth and Cape Tribulation fifth but Wayward Prince had already been pulled up at that point and it's difficult to make a case for Hilary Parrott's nine-year-old here. Silviniaco Conti had beaten The Giant Bolster and Menorah in the Denman Chase at Newbury earlier and won the big novice chase at this meeting last year so has to go close with a clear round while Colm Murphy will be hoping for a big run from the talented Quito De La Roque, who had a confidence-boosting win at Thurles in January though was well beaten behind Wayward Prince here in December. FIRST LIEUTENANT deserves a big-race success this term after cracking runs behind Tidal Bay in the Lexus at Leopardstown and Cue Card in the Ryanair at Cheltenham - it could be his turn today. Oliver McKiernan trained the 50/1 winner of this last year and Whodoyouthink will start at similar odds, though appears outclassed.
Cape Tribulation 12-1 (11-10) Held up behind in touch, struggling 16th, no impression when left 5th 3 out, plugged on from next, never troubled leaders, 5th of 9, 22l behind Bobs Worth (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs G1 (1) sft in Mar.
First Lieutenant (IRE) 2-1fav (11-10) Tracking leaders from 3rd, pecked 8th, went 2nd 4 out, every chance when blundered 3 out, dropped to 3rd next, went 2nd again last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Cue Card (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f chs G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Menorah (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Raced in last pair, niggled along and not happy from 2nd, losing touch 11th, pulled up before 13th, in a race won by Cue Card (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f chs G1 (1) gs in Mar, 8 ran.
Quito De La Roque (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, led from 8th, asserted after 2 out and kept on well run-in, won at Thurles 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (1) in Jan beating Roi Du Mee (11-8) by 7l, 8 ran.
Silviniaco Conti (FR) 4-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, hit 9th, 2 lengths down in 3rd and every chance when fell 3 out, in a race won by Bobs Worth (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs G1 (1) sft in Mar, 9 ran.
The Giant Bolster 16-1 (11-10) Tracked leader to 11th, remained prominent, pushed along in 4th when left 3rd 3 out, rallied and effort on inside next, soon ridden, no extra approaching last, 4th of 9, 16l behind Bobs Worth (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs G1 (1) sft in Mar.
Wayward Prince 100-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, dropped towards rear 6th, struggling halfway, tailed off from 4 out, 7th of 9, well behind Bobs Worth (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs G1 (1) sft in Mar.
Whodoyouthink (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, dropped to rear and ridden 4 out, no impression from next, 5th of 7, 26l behind Dedigout (11-2) at Naas 2m 4f nov chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Mar.
