in touch, headway 24th, ridden to challenge approaching last, led flat, stayed on well
in touch, headway 19th, led 26th, ridden approaching last, headed flat, kept on for clear 2nd but soon held
mid-division, headway 20th, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last
with leader, ridden 24th, weakened 5 out, tailed off and pulled up before last
mainly towards rear
always in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
mistake 11th and rider lost irons, always towards rear, mistake 23rd, pulled up before 26th
held up, headway approaching 20th, went 3rd after 4 out, ridden after next, soon one pace
tracked leaders, pecked 21st, ridden after 24th, weakened after 5 out
chased leaders, led 5th until 17th, gradually faded, behind 22nd, pulled up before 25th
led until 5th, led 17th until 26th, pressed leader, jumped right and weakened 5 out
always behind, tailed off
held up towards rear, ridden after 25th, stayed on past beaten horses from 2 out, went modest 4th last
mid-division early, tailed off and pulled up before 21st
in touch, ridden approaching 5 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up, headway 17th, ridden after 23rd, weakened 25th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Since its conception in 2005, this race has been won three times by Enda Bolger. Today he saddles four and from that quartet narrow preference is for GARDE CHAMPETRE ahead of L'Ami and Drombeag, whilst Dix Villez and Wonderkid are two others for close consideration. Nina Carberry rides so well that she must be seen as a positive on the selection. Of the five times that they have they have teamed up, they have only been defeated once and that was in the mud at Thurles over an inadequate trip. He beat L'Ami at the track last time and although he is higher in the weights as a result, he is taken to repeat last-year's victory in this race and start to emulate his old stablemate Spot Thedifference (winner of nine cross country races). The P.P. Hogan Memorial Chase has provided a pointer to previous winners and it was his stablemate L'Ami who took it this year. He won easily at Punchestown in a recent pipe-opener and the former Gold Cup third is sure to prove a hard rival to master. Dix Villez was given a cheeky ride by Davy Russell when successful here in November. Extra markers have been put in for this meeting and Paul Nolan's gelding is a pound worse off at these weights. Wonderkid knows his way around the unique track but his best efforts seem to be dependant on quick ground and he is unlikely to get those conditions today. Drombeag is now 7lbs better off with the selection on their December clash and that must give him a good chance, but he looks the stable third string, whilst Puntal would be interesting if the ground dried up at all. The market may help point to any outsiders who deserve closer inspection, but it is Garde Champetre (who once cost a whopping 530,000 guineas) who is taken to retain his crown.
Garde Champetre (FR) 7-4fav (11-12) Raced in 5th mainly, joined leader 29th, led approaching last, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) sft in Dec beating L'ami (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
L'ami (FR) 1-2fav (11-4) Tracked leaders in 6th, improved into 3rd 6 out, led on inner before 2 out, drew clear last, very easily, won at Punchestown 3m crs cty chs hvy in Feb beating Jaspers Dream (11-4) by 12l, 15 ran.
Dix Villez (FR) 28-1 (10-10) Led until 2nd, led 3rd until 8th, tracked leaders, cut corner on bend after 21st, led 2 out, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (2) sft in Nov beating Garde Champetre (11-8) by 3l, 16 ran.
Pass Me By 14-1 (10-9) Jumped right throughout, in touch, left 2nd 12th, led 4 out, headed next, 18 lengths 3rd and beaten when fell 4 out in race won by Merigo (11-1) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb, 13 ran.
Wonderkid 20-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, kept on one pace from 2 out, no danger, 10th of 17, 29l behind Baily View (11-10) at Down Royal 2m 4f hdl hvy in Feb.
Crystal d'Ainay (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Mid-division, struggling in rear when mistake 21st, soon lost touch and pulled up at the 25th in race won by Garde Champetre (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) sft in Dec, 16 ran.
He's The Gaffer (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Behind, ridden after 3 out, stayed on from next, kept on flat, nearest finish, 8th of 19, 15l behind Cathedral Rock (11-10) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Feb.
Drombeag (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 26th, ridden to chase leaders after 2 out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 16, 6l behind Garde Champetre (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) sft in Dec.
Benefit Night (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Mid-division, weakened after halfway and pulled up at the 16th in race won by Forest Leaves (10-9) at Punchestown 3m 4f hcp chs hvy in Feb, 19 ran.
Puntal (FR) 20-1 (10-13) Led until headed 13th, soon driven along, lost 2nd 15th, well outpaced 17th, stayed on again from 2 out, went poor 3rd soon after last, 3rd of 8, 25l behind Darkness (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Feb.
Heads Onthe Ground (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders in 4th, 5th 4 out, moderate 4th 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 15, 24l behind L'ami (11-4) at Punchestown 3m crs cty chs hvy in Feb.
Jaspers Dream (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division, progress into 6th 6 out, 3rd and ridden to challenge 3 out, moderate 2nd and no impression from last, 2nd of 15, 12l behind L'ami (11-4) at Punchestown 3m crs cty chs hvy in Feb.
A New Story (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, 8th and slow 4 out, ridden and no impression before 3 out, kept on one pace, 9th of 18, 41l behind Preists Leap (10-10) at Gowran Park 3m hcp chs hvy in Jan.
Dreux (FR) 25-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and weakening when mistake 4 out, no extra and weakened, trailing when pulled up at the last in race won by P'tit Fute (10-13) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl gs in Jan, 25 ran.
Ivoire De Beaulieu (FR) 50-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, mid-division when unseated rider at the 8th in race won by Black Apalachi (10-5) at Aintree 3m 2f lst hcp chs (1) hvy in Nov, 13 ran.
Florida Dream (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, headway 19th, went 4th 21st, ridden after 25th, weakened after 3 out, 8th of 16, 23l behind Garde Champetre (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) sft in Dec.
