prominent early, tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, slipped and switched right approaching 2 out, closed last, every chance flat, held close home
led until 2nd, led next until 4th, led 17th, headed 4 out, no extra last
held up, headway 8th, went 2nd after 3 out, challenged last, soon led and strongly pressed, in command close home
prominent, several slow jumps, lost place 5th, behind 25th
prominent, challenged 3 out, driven ahead before 2 out, headed after last, no extra final 100 yards
held up, jumped slowly 4th, headway 16th, mistake 21st, lost touch from 24th, soon pulled up
held up, headway 23nd, mistake 25th, led 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened before next
tracked leaders, led 4th until 17th, struggling 23rd, behind 25th
GARDE CHAMPETRE is a standing dish over these cross-country fences and, despite rising 13, can give weight and a beating to today's rivals. He won this in 2009 and found only the useful Lacdoudal too strong 12 months ago when attempting to concede 12lb. His second to Sizing Australia at The Festival in March, when last month's Wincanton fourth Gullible Gordon was well behind, showed he retains plenty of enthusiasm and a recent run over hurdles should have blown away any cobwebs. The danger may be Uncle Junior, who was third in last month's Munster National and won over 3m6f at Punchestown in May. Intac finished ahead of Gullible Gordon at Wincanton but his ability to stay further on this tough track has to be taken on trust and more interesting is Double Dizzy, who has run well around here in the past. Fort George is still a novice and looks to have plenty to prove at the weights.
Garde Champetre (FR) 25-1 (11-5) Held up in 5th, last 4 out, ridden and no impression 3 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 6, 24l behind Pittoni (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f hdl in Oct.
Gullible Gordon (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Slight lead, narrowly headed 6th, chased leaders, led again 11th, narrowly headed 14th (water), chased leader, not fluent 16th, lost 2nd before 4 out, stayed in 3rd and one pace 2 out, lost modest 3rd last stride, 4th of 10, 10l behind Gone To Lunch (10-8) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Oct.
Uncle Junior (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) In rear, slight mistake 6th, progress to chase leaders from 4 out, 6th approaching straight, kept on same pace under pressure without threatening from before last, 3rd of 15, 14l behind Muirhead (11-2) at Limerick 3m hcp chs in Oct.
Fort George (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leader until 4th, went 2nd again 10th, led after 3 out, headed before next, no extra flat, 4th of 9, 9l behind Traffic Article (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) gf in Oct.
Double Dizzy 10-1 (9-7) Mid-division in touch, struggling 12th, ridden 14th, soon behind, tailed off 4 out, 5th of 10, 47l behind Nikola (10-11) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Intac (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Pressed leader, pecked 2nd, led narrowly 6th, headed 11th, soon lost 2nd, stayed on to 2nd again approaching 3 out, tried to challenge next, readily held before last, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Gone To Lunch (10-8) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Oct.
Theroadtocroker (IRE) (10-10) 7th of 9, 22l behind Chriseti (10-10) at Craon(FR) 3m 6f chs sft in Sep.
Wedger Pardy (IRE) 4-1 (12-3) Always prominent, bad mistake 14th (old double), left in lead before 6 out, soon ridden, headed after 3 out, close enough in 3rd when left in lead before 2 out, headed before last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 13, 13l behind Outlaw Pete (11-12) at Punchestown 3m crs cntry chs (5yo+) fm in May.
