held up in rear, headway 10th, hit 12th, not fluent 14th, close up 3 out, weakened from final bend, pecked last
chasing leaders 2nd, led 5th, headed 7th, lost place when mistake 11th, tailed off 16th, pulled up after
led until 4th, led 7th, mistake 4 out, headed next, pecked last, well held by winner flat
prominent, led 4th until 5th, hit 14th, lost place before slow 16th, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, lost place after 7th, closed 11th, led 3 out, clear flat, stayed on well
held up in touch, not fluent 3 out, mistake 2 out, went 3rd final bend, no impression on winner, stayed on
handy when slow 1st, in rear 3rd, not fluent 6th, well behind 15th
Adrien Du Pont remains a class act and has won both his hunter chases in a canter. However, in 27 runs under Rules he has never tackled further than 3m and therefore he is passed over, albeit with great reluctance. By contrast, Captain Cattistock and Sam Red came home one-two in the recent 4m Cheltenham hunter chase and have no stamina concerns and former is expected to confirm placings. Monbeg Chit Chat also scored at Cheltenham that evening and he too will stay the trip but BOB AND CO is a classy operator in this sphere, stays 3m2f and delivered a tremendous performance last time to outpoint Billaway to land the prestigious Champion Hunters Chase at the Punchestown Festival - form which sets the standard.
Adrien Du Pont (FR) 2-5fav (12-0) Made virtually all, hit 7th, clear advantage after 9th, extended advantage after 12th, ridden after 2 out but well in command, readil, won at Kempton 2m 4f (5) gd in Apr beating Envoye Special (11-10) by 17l, 6 ran.
Bishops Road (IRE) 200-1 (12-0) Some slow jumps, always behind, 14th of 21, dist behind Cousin Pascal (12-0) at Aintree 2m 5f (2) gs in Apr.
Bob And Co (FR) 3-1 (12-2) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway into 4th and bad mistake at 9th, mistake 13th, improved into 2nd 3 out, disputed lead from 2 out and ridden, stayed on well inside final furlong, led and disputed line, won at Punchestown 3m 1f Yielding in Apr beating Billaway (12-2) by ns, 14 ran.
Captain Cattistock 9-4 (12-2) Challenged 2nd, led 5th, headed next, led again 9th, not fluent 16th, edged left bend before 2 out, pressed last, soon headed, stayed on, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Sugar Baron (11-12) at Warwick 3m 1f (5) gs in May.
Law Of Gold (IRE) 9-4 (11-11) Chased leaders, not fluent 11th, closer at 14th, 2nd next, ridden to lead last, stayed on well run-in, won at Fontwell 3m 2f (6) gd in May beating Shantou Flyer (12-1) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Monbeg Chit Chat 1-4fav (12-5) A.p; led 15; drew clr 3 out; easy, won at Hexham 3m gd in May beating Rattle The Cage (12-5) by 20l, 5 ran.
Sam Red (FR) 100-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway, ran on well run-in, went 2nd close home, not reach winner, 2nd of 16, 1l behind Captain Cattistock (11-10) at Cheltenham 4m (4) gd in Apr.
