soon raced in 5th, 4th and pushed along approaching straight, no impression before 2 out, one pace
soon raced in 4th, mainly 3rd after 4th, slight mistake 5th, not fluent 3 out and pushed along, challenged before last, led and stayed on best from early run-in
tracked leaders, soon 3rd, mainly 4th after 4th, dropped to 5th briefly before straight, soon pushed along to chase leader, close 3rd and mistake last, slightly impeded run-in and no impression but kept on
towards rear, fell 5th
led, headed before 5th, pushed along in 2nd approaching straight, no impression in 4th from before last, one pace
soon raced in 6th, bad mistake 4th, pushed along before 3 out, soon no impression, no extra from before straight
towards rear, detached in last at 4th, soon no danger, pulled up after 2 out
close up, led before 5th, ridden after 2 out, pressed from before last, headed and kept on same pace from early run-in
Un De Sceaux put a scrappy round of jumping behind him to land the Ryanair at The Festival by a length from Sub Lieutenant and, though that was over 2m5f ,he had previously won two Grade 1 races over this trip and finished runner-up to Sprinter Sacre in last year's Champion Chase. He'll be very difficult to beat but FOX NORTON was so impressive when beating Sub Lieutenant in the 2m4f Melling Chase that he looks the one to be on. Colin Tizzard's charge had only just failed to peg back Special Tiara in the Champion Chase earlier and may just have more basic speed than his main rival and also holds God's Own, last year's winner of this, on that Aintree run. Ballycasey's big moment came when beating Don Cossack in a Grade 1 in 2014 but he's generally failed when tackling the highest level subsequently while Sir Valentino was behind the selection in the Champion Chase last month.
Ballycasey (IRE) 15-8 (11-10) Led, joined and disputed from 2nd, led entering straight, asserted before last, ridden run-in and strongly pressed, all out close home, won at Fairyhouse 2m 1f (1) Soft - Heavy in Apr beating Ball D'arc (11-10) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Fox Norton (FR) 4-1 (11-7) Mid-division, hit 5th, mistake 8th, closed going well after 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, led 2 out, clear before last, stayed on strongly, eased close home, won at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr beating Sub Lieutenant (11-7) by 6l, 9 ran.
God's Own (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway into 4th 3 out, no impression and jumped right 2 out, well held 5th when jumped right last, 5th of 9, 23 1/2l behind Fox Norton (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr.
Realt Mor (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Took keen hold early, in rear, not fluent 7th, 6th when slight mistake 3 out, soon no extra, 6th of 7, 30 3/4l behind Val De Ferbet (11-0) at Cork 3m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Rock The World (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Prominent early, held up mid-division on inside, tracked leaders after 3 out, switched outside to challenge next, led last, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Mar beating Gardefort (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 24 ran.
Sir Valentino (FR) 33-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, 2nd 2 out until after last, stayed on same pace final 100 yards just held onto 3rd, 3rd of 10, 6 1/4l behind Special Tiara (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
The Game Changer (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Not always fluent jumping, pulled up before 6 out, at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Good - Yielding in Apr.
Un De Sceaux (FR) 7-4fav (11-10) Kept wide early, raced keenly after 3rd, led before 6th, travelled well and made rest, clear after 7th, reached for 12th, ridden and stayed on well under pressure final 100 yards, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gd in Mar beating Sub Lieutenant (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
