mid-division, hit 20th, chased leaders 3 out, ridden and one pace between last 2, stayed on to take 4th near finish, never troubled leaders
led to 3rd, with leader, left in lead again 12th, headed 5 out, weakened 2 out, tailed off
with leader, led narrowly 3rd until fell 12th
mid-division, went prominent 5th, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up before last
held up behind, hampered by loose horse 12th, no danger after, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
prominent, driven to chase winner after 3 out, ridden and lost place between last 2, no chance with front trio before last, lost 4th near finish
chased leaders, lost place and reminders after 24th, soon behind and no danger after, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up in rear, some headway past beaten horses 4 out, hit next, soon outpaced, never reached leaders, weakened between last 2, pulled up before last
mid-division, headway and in touch 13th, lost place 20th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up, always towards rear, struggling halfway, lost touch when pulled up before 20th
tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, outpaced by front pair before last, well held after
always prominent, challenged 6 out, led next, driven 3 lengths clear before last, ridden out flat, kept on well
mid-division, tracked leaders 6 out, went 2nd between last 2, 3 lengths down when not fluent last, ridden and kept on flat, not reach winner
held up behind, headway and in touch 18th, mistake 20th, weakened 6 out, tailed off when clambered over next, pulled up soon after
chased leaders, lost place 17th, soon behind, lost touch when pulled up before 5 out
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
The Last Samuri is the class act in this but Kim Bailey’s 2016 Grand National runner-up may be hampered by his lack of experience on this unique course. Cause Of Causes won this last year by nine lengths and everything has been geared for a repeat. He’s bidding for a fourth win at The Festival but the ground may have turned against Jamie Codd’s mount. Bless The Wings beat Cantlow and 2016 winner Josies Orders over course and distance in December but fifth-placed TIGER ROLL, another runner from the Gordon Elliott yard, will have learned plenty that day and may be a better bet on today’s going. He won the National Hunt Chase here last year and doesn’t have much to find on official ratings. Enda Bolger holds his usual strong hand with last year’s fourth, Auvergnat, joining Josies Orders and Cantlow in the starting line-up having won over the banks course at Punchestown last time. Urgent De Gregaine won here last year and was then second in the Velka Pardubicka. He finished behind stablemate Vicomte Du Seuil when third here in November but is much better off at the weights today and looks the best of Emmanuel Clayeux’ two runners.
Auvergnat (FR) 7-2 (12-0) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, 4th before 5 out, headway into 2nd after 3 out and led last, ridden and kept on run-in, held on, won at Punchestown 3m hvy in Feb beating Josies Orders (11-11) by shd, 11 ran.
Beeves (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Led to after 4 out, weakened from next, tailed off, 9th of 11, dist behind Calett Mad (11-8) at Musselburgh 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Bless The Wings (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led 27th, driven flat, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gs in Dec beating Cantlow (11-1) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Cantlow (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 13th, 2nd after 2 out, held by winner flat, stayed on, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Bless The Wings (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Cause Of Causes (USA) 33-1 (11-10) Held up, soon towards rear, no danger 10th, impeded last, 15th of 22, dist behind Last Goodbye (10-7) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp sft in Feb.
Chic Name (FR) 33-1 (11-5) Disputed lead, ridden after 3 out, lost place next, readily outpaced by front pair between last 2, 3rd of 4, 23l behind Elegant Escape (11-4) at Exeter 3m (2) hvy in Feb.
Federici 4-1 (11-12) Jumped left, led, hit 4 out, headed next, lost 2nd soon after, tried to rally last, switched right and no impression in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Goohar (11-1) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Hurricane Darwin (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) In rear, slow 4th (ruby's double), detached before 13th, no impression in moderate 8th before 2 out, some headway approaching last, kept on one pace, never a factor, 4th of 11, 14 3/4l behind Auvergnat (12-0) at Punchestown 3m hvy in Feb.
Josies Orders (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, slight mistake 5 out (ruby's double), headway to lead 3 out, ridden and headed last, under pressure and kept on run-in, just failed, 2nd of 11, shd behind Auvergnat (12-0) at Punchestown 3m hvy in Feb.
Saint Are (FR) 100-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, lost place after 6th, behind and reminders after next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 3m (1) hvy in Jan.
The Last Samuri (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Held up towards rear, driven to chase leaders in 4th before 4 out, soon outpaced, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, no impression, 4th of 8, 10 3/4l behind Definitly Red (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) hvy in Jan.
Tiger Roll (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) In rear, slow 1st, pecked 24th, mistake 27th, some headway 2 out, no impression, weakened before last, 5th of 9, dist behind Bless The Wings (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Urgent De Gregaine (FR) 7-2 (10-13) Held up in touch, tracked leaders from 7th, left 2nd 18th, effort between last 2, ridden and kept on same pace in 3rd from last, 3rd of 10, 6 3/4l behind Kingswell Theatre (10-7) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Urumqi (FR) (11-4) 2nd of 12, 1l behind Protekblue (10-10) at Pau 2m 4f hcp gd in Feb.
Vicomte Du Seuil (FR) 12-1 (10-0) In touch early, held up mid-division, tracked leaders 21st, effort to challenge before last, ridden and every chance flat, kept on, held towards finish, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Kingswell Theatre (10-7) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Belamix Dor (FR) (9-13) 7th of 16, dist behind Argentier (11-2) at Pau 2m 4f hcp hvy in Feb.
