mid-division on outer, not fluent at 2nd and dropped to 4th, 5th after 7th, slight mistake at 8th and dropped to rear, soon detached, pulled up before 9th
rear of mid-division, 3rd after 2nd, not fluent at 10th, took closer order after 3 out, headway to lead before 2 out, asserted before last, kept on well, easily
towards rear, improved to 4th after 7th, slightly detached after 3 out, dropped to 5th and weakened before 2 out where mistake and unseated rider
rear, not fluent at 1st, mistake at 3rd, 6th after 7th, 5th after 8th, not fluent at 10th, slightly detached after 3 out, effort in 4th entering straight, weakened and detached before 2 out
tracked leader in 2nd, mistake at 5th, took closer order after 3 out, no impression on leader before last where mistake, no extra and dropped to moderate 3rd close home
led, increased lead before 4th, not fluent at 6th and reduced lead, increased lead after 10th, reduced advantage after 3 out, headed before 2 out where dropped to 3rd, kept on run-in to moderate 2nd close home
BACHASSON was rated 162 after landing a Grade 2 at Gowran two years ago, his fifth successive victory and 15th in all. He has not raced subsequently but is suited by the race conditions and will not lack for fitness. Grand Paradis would be receiving 25lb in a handicap but has to concede 6lb and was well beaten in graded races at Cork and Punchestown in November. Batcio is another with a long absence to overcome having not been seen since runner-up in last year's Topham at Aintree, which is likely to be his target again. Bois De Clamart has been confined to hurdles since landing a Grade B handicap over fences at Gowran a year ago and could provide the main threat though My Design was strongly fancied to make a winning chasing debut here earlier this month and overcame a bad mistake to justify the optimism.
Grand Paradis (FR) 9-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, mistake 3rd and slight mistake 4th, slight mistake 6 out, slight mistake 3 out and ridden, soon no extra, weakened before next, 5th of 6, dist behind Midnight Run (11-4) at Punchestown 2m 1f (1) Yielding in Nov.
Bachasson (FR) 4-11fav (11-10) Disputed early, chased leader from 2nd, led 4 out, asserted before 2 out, not extended, won at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) Soft - Heavy in Mar beating Castlegrace Paddy (11-10) by 16l, 4 ran.
Batcio (FR) 25-1 (10-0) Towards rear, progress into midfield 12th (canal turn), headway before 4 out, tracked leaders 2 out, chased leader last, stayed on flat but could not match winner, 2nd of 29, 4 1/4l behind Mac Tottie (10-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Bois De Clamart (FR) 22-1 (11-2) Towards rear, ridden after 4 out, headway into 6th 2 out, no impression, 8th of 13, 15 1/4l behind Hms Seahorse (11-0) at Navan 2m 4f hcp sft in Jan.
Spyglass Hill (IRE) 50-1 (11-8) Soon led, slight mistake at 1st and 4th, not fluent at 6th, mistake at 8th, headed and lost place approaching straight, weakened quickly before last, 12th of 17, 15 1/2l behind Verdant Place (10-4) at Punchestown 3m hcp Yielding in Feb.
My Design (IRE) 6-5fav (11-7) Prominent and led from 4th, slight mistake 5 out, pushed along and joined briefly 2 out where mistake, ridden and asserted run-in, kept on well, won at Clonmel 2m 4f sft in Mar beating Pont Aval (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
