prominent, led 4th, narrow lead headed 3 out, led again 2 out, headed before last, stayed on to hold on well 2nd flat
always in touch, jumped slowly 5th, joined leader 25th, led 3 out to 2 out, stayed on same pace
led until approaching 4th, tracked leader until approaching 15th, lost place next, behind 17th, tailed off before pulled up 25th
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, jumped slowly 5th, mistake 23rd, headway 25th, mistake 5 out, one pace after 3 out
always in touch, jumped slowly 12th, 3rd when mistake 26th, slightly outpaced after 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
chased leaders, outpaced from 5 out
in rear, mistake 7th, effort 22nd, not fluent next, losing place when fell 27th
behind until pulled up before 19th
in rear, steady headway from halfway, outpaced 5 out, rallied between last 2, stayed on same pace flat
towards rear, jumped slowly 5th, struggling 11th, pulled up before 16th
prominent, lost place 25th, struggling when mistake next, pulled up before 27th
held up, mistake 13th, headway 25th, disputing 4th when ran wide on landing, slipped up and unseated rider 27th
patiently ridden, held up and behind, headway 27th, close up 3 out, led approaching last, stayed on well and drew clear flat comfortably
in touch, mistake 10th, ridden 23rd, outpaced 25th, tried to close after 2 out but no real danger
mid-division, behind after 24th, hampered 27th, tailed off
mid-division, in touch 9th, lost place when blundered 27th, no headway after
French raider Juful Tennis still had every chance before unseating his rider late on here behind Spot Thedifference last time and he has to be respected along with the Paul Nicholls-trained Le Duc, who finished fourth in that race, but preference is for Heads Onthe Ground. The selection won the big one at the festival here last season, trainer Enda Bolger knows better than anyone else what is required to win these races and he is taken to carry on where Spot Thedifference left off. Stable companion Freneys Well is less exposed than most of these and has to be respected but looks the clear second string of Enda's three runners. Garde Champetre completes the Bolger trio but a bigger threat is likely to come from the consistent Royal Auclair. There are plenty of runners and several with chances but it is Heads Onthe Ground that gets the vote.
Heads Onthe Ground (IRE) 4-7fav (12-0) Always prominent, 3rd halfway, 2nd 3 out, ridden after next, no impression after last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Never Compromise (11-6) at Punchestown 3m crs cty chs gs in Nov.
Royal Auclair (FR) 16-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, blundered and unseated rider at the 11th in race won by Mr Pointment (11-5) at Aintree 3m 2f lst hcp chs (1) gs in Nov, 19 ran.
Juful Tennis (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Led, headed but left in lead 4th, headed before next, pressed leader, led 25th, blundered and unseated rider at the 27th in race won by Spot Thedifference (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (2) gf in Nov, 14 ran.
Le Duc (FR) 16-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 4th of 19, 23l behind Mr Pointment (11-5) at Aintree 3m 2f lst hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
Florida Dream (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Prominent, took wrong course after 4th, continued well behind, progress 19th, no impression on leaders from 3 out, 5th of 14, 13l behind Spot Thedifference (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (2) gf in Nov.
Freneys Well (12-0) Chased leaders, challenged 2 out, led run-in, won at Ballinrobe Point 3m ire ptp gd in Oct beating Fountainsmemory (12-0) by 4l, 6 ran.
Garde Champetre (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Always in rear, tailed off 4 out, last of 9, well behind Sonnyanjoe (10-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Oct.
All In The Stars (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) fell in race won by Geeveem (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov, 6 ran.
Ivoire De Beaulieu (FR) (10-10) Tracked leaders, every chance 3 out, one pace, 4th of 14, 13l behind Sixteen (10-10) at Pardubice 4m 2f crs cty chs (1) gd in Oct.
Rocking Ship (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Close up, 2nd when slight mistake 6th, improved to lead 6 out, headed 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 18, 13l behind Millanymare (11-0) at Listowel 3m hcp chs 0-109 gf in Sept.
Iris Royal (FR) 9-1 (10-13) In touch, hit 12th and never going well after, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Hordago (10-1) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Nov, 13 ran.
Craven (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Close up, tracked leader 5th, led 11th, ridden approaching last, headed and no extra close home, 3rd of 5, 1 1/2l behind King Harald (11-6) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Wonderkid 5-1 (10-1) Towards rear, moderate 7th 4 out, soon no impression under pressure, 6th and kept on same pace from before straight, 6th of 10, 40l behind On You Go (10-11) at Limerick 3m hcp chs 0-130 gs in Nov.
Native Beat (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Mid-division, mistake 14th, 5th 3 out, moderate 3rd after next, one pace, 3rd of 13, 25l behind Never Compromise (11-6) at Punchestown 3m crs cty chs gs in Nov.
Dulgodti Bob (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Mid-division, slowed up before 5th, pushed along after 14th, 8th when unseated rider at the 20th in race won by Spot Thedifference (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (2) gf in Nov, 14 ran.
Osko D'aron (FR) (10-6) Ran on strongly from 2 out, 8th of 10, 43l behind Olifan De Sarti (10-1) at Auteuil 2m 4f ch in Nov.
