tracked leaders, driven 3 out, in touch when left in narrow 2nd briefly 2 out, soon one pace, kept on flat, no impression
with leader, led 22nd to 24th, in touch, driven 5 out, led again narrowly when left with clear advantage 2 out, soon ridden, hung right between last 2, headed last, kept on, held flat
held up behind, driven 4 out, headway under pressure when not much room 2 out, chased leading pair before last, ridden and kept on flat, not reach front pair
tracked leaders, driven 3 out, one pace when edged left and left disputing 2nd next, ridden and one pace before last, no impression flat
tracked leaders, led 24th, driven and headed narrowly when went left, crashed through rail and ran out 2 out
mid-division, in touch 24th, tracked leading pair going well after 3 out, challenged and every chance on inside when hampered and carried out through rail next
prominent, disputed lead 24th, outpaced 3 out, one pace when hampered and left 4th next, ridden and weakened flat
slowly away, always behind, mistake 11th, never a threat
made most to 22nd, in touch, outpaced when mistake 4 out, weakened from 2 out
mid-division, smooth headway 4 out, tracked leaders after next, left disputing 2nd when short of room 2 out, led last, ridden and stayed on well flat
held up towards rear, mistake 4th, mid-division 17th, in touch 23rd, driven to chase leaders when hampered 2 out, soon one pace, stayed on under pressure flat, went 4th near finish, not reach leaders
mid-division, mistake 4th, under pressure when not fluent 26th, soon behind, no danger after
mistakes, always behind, blundered and unseated rider 21st
chased leaders, blundered 21st, outpaced 4 out, no impression before 2 out
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, weakened from next
chased leaders to 6th, mid-division when not fluent 10th, lost place and behind when mistake 21st, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
The cross-country race at Punchestown in February has been a good guide to this in the past but Enda Bolger's Quantitativeeasing was a very disappointing odds-on favourite in that event and has little in hand on the close-up Ipsos Du Berlais on that form. Hey Big Spender lacks experience in this type of race, as does Charingworth, while it's difficult to see the six-year-olds Nuage D'Ainay, Dogora and Master Rajeem getting involved. But it will be difficult to keep Uncle Junior, Sire Collonges and Any Currency out of the firing-line as the trio filled the places behind Balthazar King here in November and the latter stayed on too strongly for Quantitativeeasing over course and distance subsequently. DUKE OF LUCCA was prominent when getting rid of Richard Johnson in that latter race but was fourth in this last year and enjoys a 12lb turnaround in the weights with runner-up Any Currency. He's useful on his day and it could be his turn as Chicago Grey appears to be a light of former days. Toutancarmont has won 12 of his 24 chases in France but has his first run outside of that country today and fell on his latest start at Pau.
Hey Big Spender (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, headway into 4th before 5th, went 3rd 13th, pushed along and no impression on leading duo after 3 out, lost modest 3rd close home, 4th of 6, 11l behind Carole's Destrier (11-0) at Ascot 3m hcp chs Listed (1) sft in Feb.
Any Currency (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, challenging when mistake 6 out, led 4 out, clear after 3 out until before last, stayed on well to draw clear again final 150 yards, won at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) gs in Dec beating Quantitativeeasing (11-0) by 12l, 12 ran.
Uncle Junior (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, well behind from 6th, very modest headway 4 out, no impression, tailed off, 7th of 12, well behind Any Currency (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) gs in Dec.
Sire Collonges (FR) 8-1 (11-8) In touch, joined winner when mistake 19th, led 6 out, headed 3 out, ridden after next, kept on under pressure flat, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Balthazar King (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cntry chs (5yo+) (2) gd in Nov.
Toutancarmont (FR) 10-11fav (10-10) in a race won by Feu Croise (10-10) at Pau(FR) 3m 7f lst chs hvy in Feb, 13 ran.
Quantitativeeasing (IRE) 8-11fav (11-4) Chased leaders, 4th at 16th, not fluent 5 out (Ruby's Double), no impression in 6th 2 out, kept on one pace to go 4th close home, 4th of 8, 9l behind Ballyboker Bridge (10-11) at Punchestown 3m crs cntry chs (5yo+) sft in Feb.
Duke Of Lucca (IRE) 5-1fav (10-13) Chased leaders on outside, mistake and unseated rider 21st, in a race won by Any Currency (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) gs in Dec, 12 ran.
Chicago Grey (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Soon mid-division, 14th at 8th, mistake 5 out, no extra from before 3 out, 17th of 25, well behind Balbriggan (9-12) at Navan 3m hcap ch sft in Nov.
Nuage D'ainay (FR) 7-1 (11-4) 4th of 11, 2l behind Qaran Le Rouge (10-10) at Pau(FR) 2m 7f chs gd in Jan.
Rivage D'Or (FR) 4-1 (12-0) In tch til wknd rap 13; pu 15, in a race won by Baresi (12-0) at Black Forest Club 3m ptp gs in Nov, 9 ran.
Dogora (FR) 4-9fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, left 2nd 5 out, travelling well in close 2nd entering straight, led 2 out, soon pushed along and joined, ridden and led after last, soon strongly pressed, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Smokey Joe Joe (11-7) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f beg chase sft in Feb.
Ipsos Du Berlais (FR) 7-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, pushed along in 6th halfway, 5th 3 out and no impression next, kept on one pace straight, 5th of 8, 9l behind Ballyboker Bridge (10-11) at Punchestown 3m crs cntry chs (5yo+) sft in Feb.
Charingworth (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Mid-division on outside, reminders and towards rear 7th, behind 13th, pulled up after, in a race won by Soll (10-8) at Exeter 3m hcap ch (2) gs in Feb, 14 ran.
Rose Of The Moon (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) With winner until 11th, lost place from next, last of 4, well behind Holywell (11-8) at Kelso 3m 2f chs (2) gs in Feb.
Are Ya Right Chief (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Led early, tracked leaders, slight mistake 5th, followed leader and jumped left at 6th, a little slow at 11th, no impression approaching straight, no extra when jumped left last, 8th of 19, 44l behind Jupitor (10-10) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp chs sft in Apr.
Master Rajeem (USA) 15-8fav (11-1) Disputed lead to 7th, in touch, driven to chase winner 15th, ridden and kept on same pace from 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Sir Mangan (10-7) at Sedgefield 3m 3f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
