did not jump with fluency, held up in last, ridden and behind 15th, left 4th 2 out
chased front pair, not much room 8th, mistake and unseated rider 12th
held up behind leaders, left 3rd 12th, not fluent 15th, ridden to chase winner before 2 out, 3 1/2 lengths down last, no impression, stayed on
led, slow 2nd, not fluent and headed 8th, led 4 out, soon headed, led again 3 out, 3 1/2 lengths ahead of 2nd but had loose horse just in front when mistake last, stayed on well, comfortably
held up behind leaders, bad mistake and lost ground on rivals 11th, left 4th next, weakened before 3 out, fell 2 out
tracked winner, led 8th, headed 4 out, soon led again, mistake and headed 3 out, lost 2nd before 2 out, no extra last
Dickie Diver was having a first run since fourth in the 2019 Albert Bartlett when second at Newbury on his fencing bow but would need to massive improvement to go one better in this. MONKFISH won last year’s Albert Bartlett and has looked imperious over fences this season, winning all three including two Grade 1 races at Leopardstown when beating the highly-regarded Latest Exhibition – he can land the odds again here. Fiddlerontheroof was beaten again trying 3m at Warwick and also broke a blood vessel but stable companion The Big Breakaway deserves respect as he was challenging Shan Blue in the Kauto Star at Kempton when blundering at the last and will appreciate this stiffer test. Eklat De Rire is still something of an unknown quantity despite victories at Punchestown and Naas while Sporting John beat Shan Blue in the Scilly Isles, though probably benefited from his rivals going off too quickly that day.
Dickie Diver (IRE) 10-3 (11-1) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway 5 out, shaken up 3 out, left 3rd last, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 7 1/2l behind Paint The Dream (10-11) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Eklat De Rire (FR) 11-4 (11-2) Made virtually all, went on before straight, soon reduced lead, pushed out and stayed on well run-in, won at Naas 3m 1f (1) hvy in Jan beating Escaria Ten (11-2) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Fiddlerontheroof (IRE) 15-8 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, soon not much room, again not much room and dropped to 3rd final bend, switched right before taking 2nd again 2 out, challenged last, held final 100 yards, 2nd of 3, 1 1/2l behind Next Destination (11-5) at Warwick 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Monkfish (IRE) 1-2fav (11-12) Made all, shaken up briefly after last, soon stretched clear, easily, won at Leopardstown 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb beating Latest Exhibition (11-12) by 11l, 8 ran.
Sporting John (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up well in rear, jumped slowly 5th, left closer in 5th at 12th, headway chasing leaders before 3 out went 2nd between last 2, challenged and untidy last, stayed on to lead final 150 yards, soon clear, won at Sandown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Feb beating Shan Blue (11-4) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.
The Big Breakaway (IRE) 16-5 (11-7) Waited with in last pair, smooth headway when hit 14th, went 3rd before 4 out, pushed along before next, 2nd before 2 out where mistake, over 1 length down when blundered last, no chance after, 2nd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Shan Blue (11-7) at Kempton 3m (1) gs in Dec.
