held up mid-division on inside, blundered 6 out, soon pushed along, headway under pressure 2 out, slightly hampered bend between last 2, ridden and kept on approaching last, no impression
held up towards rear, headway into mid-division on inside 22nd, jumped slowly and lost place 24th, weakened from 3 out
held up in touch, smooth headway 3 out went 2nd next, led last, headed flat, soon ridden and no extra
always behind, weakened 3 out
with leader, mistake 18th, lost place 25th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, hit 6 out, driven 2 out, in touch when hampered and squeezed out bend between last 2, not recover, weakened last
held up towards rear, headway into mid-division 21st, ridden to chase leaders after 2 out, no impression approaching last
mid-division, headway 3 out, effort when not much room on inside and hampered bend between last 2, soon ridden and one pace
tracked leaders, joined leader 25th, led 5 out, ridden between last 2, headed last, kept on same pace flat
mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden and every chance between last 2, one pace last
held up towards rear, chased leaders after 3 out, soon ridden, no impression approaching last
led, headed 5 out, driven and outpaced 2 out, soon ridden, weakened last
held up in touch, pecked 19th, headway 3 out, ridden after next, challenged last, led flat, stayed on well
tracked leaders, mistake and rider lost iron 18th, chased leader 4 out to 2 out, ridden and one pace approaching last
always behind
behind, headway into mid-division 3 out, ridden and outpaced next, no impression approaching last
The evergreen 13-year-old Monkerhostin bounced back to winning ways when successful at Sandown last month and he looks the best of the home challenge for the cross country race but this is likely to be dominated by the Irish and Enda Bolger in particular with GARDE CHAMPETRE taken to follow up his success of 12 months ago and getting the vote ahead of stable companion L'ami. The last mentioned is 4lbs better in with the selection on their running here last season when he was beaten just under two lengths so he has every chance of reversing the form but Garde Champetre loves it round here and seems to have improved since winning the race last term so can confirm the form from 2009. The 2007 Grand National winner Silver Birch has not surprisingly taken pretty well to cross country races and Gordon Elliott's gelding has to be considered but he is held by the selection on previous form here. Another Jewel is closely matched with Silver Birch on their running at Punchestown in January and is likely to struggle with a bigger threat looking to come from Sizing Australia. Henry De Bromhead's gelding is closely matched with Garde Champetre on running here in November and December but Enda Bolger's gelding keeps on finding more when needed and he can win again.
Garde Champetre (FR) 14-1 (11-3) Towards rear, no extra and eased from before straight, last of 7, 36l behind Won In The Dark (11-3) at Punchestown 2m hdl sft in Feb.
Monkerhostin (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Held up in rear,steady headway 17th, chased leaders 4 out, challenged and hit 3 out, ridden before last, stayed on gamely to lead last strides, won at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) gs in Feb beating Exmoor Ranger (11-3) by ns, 13 ran.
L'ami (FR) 20-1 (11-6) Towards rear, closer in 5th before straight, soon no impression under pressure, last of 7, 10l behind Rite Of Passage (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl sft in Feb.
Preists Leap (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Vic Venturi (11-3) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f chs Grd 2 sft in Feb, 8 ran.
Silver Birch (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, 3rd halfway, 2nd after 5 out, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression when mistake 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 14, 6l behind Another Jewel (11-4) at Punchestown 3m crs cntry chs (5yo+) hvy in Jan.
Sizing Australia (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Rear of mid-division, moderate 8th approaching 2 out, soon no impression, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Smoking Aces (11-6) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl sft in Feb.
Cornish Sett (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Held up in touch, chased leaders 12th, under pressure 16th, weakened after next, 8th of 18, 37l behind Dream Alliance (10-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec.
Freneys Well 9-2 (11-2) Mid-division early, 6th halfway, ridden in 5th and no extra before 3 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 14, 39l behind Another Jewel (11-4) at Punchestown 3m crs cntry chs (5yo+) hvy in Jan.
Lacdoudal (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, mistake 9th, not fluent 3 out, no impression, 10th of 13, well behind Monkerhostin (11-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
Another Jewel (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, headway to lead 6 out, ridden clear from 2 out, kept on well, won at Punchestown 3m crs cntry chs (5yo+) hvy in Jan beating Silver Birch (11-4) by 6l, 14 ran.
Drombeag (IRE) 9-2 (12-3) Prominent, weakened quickly from 7 out, pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Freneys Well (11-7) at Punchestown 3m 1f crs cntry chs (5yo+) sft in May, 19 ran.
Heads Onthe Ground (IRE) 5-2fav (11-4) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, 4th 6 out, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Another Jewel (11-4) at Punchestown 3m crs cntry chs (5yo+) hvy in Jan, 14 ran.
A New Story (IRE) 25-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders in 6th, 4th 3 out, 3rd and ridden next, soon challenged, kept on under pressure from last, 4th of 21, 2 1/2l behind Dancing Tornado (11-0) at Naas 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 sft.
Double Dizzy 14-1 (11-7) Took keen hold, held up, headway to dispute 3rd 10th, hit 3 out and driven, went 2nd soon after 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Duc De Regniere (11-7) at Kempton 2m 4f grd chs (5yo+) (2) gs in Feb.
Oceanos des Obeaux (FR) 33-1 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden 7th, soon dropped to rear, struggling 10th, tailed off 13th, 10th of 15, well behind Fortification (10-4) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Dec.
Tawnies (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) 2nd to halfway, dropped to 5th before 5 out, 6th 4 out, remote 4th 2 out, left 3rd last, kept on to snatch 2nd close home, 2nd of 7, 23l behind Let Yourself Go (11-1) at Thurles 2m 2f chs sft in Feb.
