soon led, jumped well, asserted after 4 out, not fluent 3 out, kept on well, impressive
raced 3rd, 5th after 4th, headway to 3rd 3 out, ridden into 2nd after 2 out, no impression on easy winner, kept on same pace
settled 4th, 3rd 4 out, no impression in 4th 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
ran 5th, 3rd after 4th, progress to 2nd halfway, dropped to 3rd after 2 out, no impression on easy winner, kept on same pace
held up in rear, 6th after 4th, detached 4 out, closer in 6th 3 out where brought down
rear, detached after 4th, pecked 9th, left moderate 5th 3 out, kept on one pace, never a factor
soon tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd halfway, dropped to 4th 4 out, soon ridden, 5th before 3 out where mistake and fell
Willie Mullins has won all but one of the last nine and DOUVAN will be at short odds to continue the sequence. Unbeaten in all 10 starts since joining the champion trainer from France, this is a rare outing away from Grade 1 company where he's already a winner seven times, including a brilliant championship hat-trick in the spring. He has to concede weight all round including 8lb to Gilgamboa, himself a Grade 1 winner and only just touched off on his return to action at this level at Navan after his superb effort in the Grand National. The Game Changer is a consistent performer at this sort of level but was easily swept aside by the selection three times in the spring while Days Hotel could only finish fourth behind Felix Yonger in this last year.
Douvan (FR) 2-9fav (11-10) Disputed lead, led from 1st, jumped well, travelling smoothly and quickened to assert from before last, stayed on well, impressive, won at Punchestown 2m (1) Yielding in Apr beating The Game Changer (11-10) by 11l, 5 ran.
Days Hotel (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, progress into 4th 4 out, ridden and no impression on leaders entering straight, under pressure in 5th 2 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 7, 11 1/2l behind Alelchi Inois (11-5) at Clonmel 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Nov.
The Game Changer (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Prominent and disputed lead, led before 3rd, travelling well approaching 2 out where slight mistake, pushed along and headed last, ridden and no extra run-in, 4th of 6, 8 3/4l behind Arctic Skipper (11-1) at Navan 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Fine Rightly (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, good progress from 3 out, ridden and went 2nd next, dropped to 3rd at last, no extra in 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 16, 6 1/2l behind Jury Duty (10-4) at Navan 2m 7f hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Gilgamboa (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, no impression before 3 out, closer in 4th 2 out and progress to challenge last, soon led, ridden and kept on, headed on line, 2nd of 6, shd behind Arctic Skipper (11-1) at Navan 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Ludo Et Emergo (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Soon mid-division, some slight mistakes, 10th from 3rd, dropped behind and no danger approaching 2 out, last of 13, 37 1/4l behind Copy Print (10-1) at Galway 2m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Mozoltov 3-1 (11-4) Held up behind leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 5th entering straight, stayed on into 3rd before last, no impression on leaders, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 4 1/4l behind Felix Yonger (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) sft in Jan.
Vukovar (FR) 33-1 (11-7) In touch towards rear, hampered 2nd, hit 8th, closed 13th, mistake next, soon lost place, struggling in last when mistake 4 out, left behind 3 out, pulled up before last, at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
