One of the best staying novice chases run so far this season, though probably not as strong in reality as it had looked on paper with a few under-performing. The pace ebbed and flowed a bit, with a fairly fast closing stages (even after allowing for the omission of the usual last) and a finishing speed % of about 107.
FURY ROAD (c156 here, 147 previously) was much more convincing in first-time cheekpeices, matching his smart hurdles form and stamping himself as a leading contender for the Festival Novices (formerly RSA) Chase, jumping well in mid-field, leading shortly after what would usually have been the final fence and forging on when given the office soon after, merely pushed out.
RUN WILD FRED (c149 here, 155 previously) was not discredited but probably a bit below the form he showed when winning at Navan, mostly disputing the lead, doing well not to fall at the ninth, and just keeping on after what proved to be the final fence, this barely enough of a test for him.
VANILLIER (c140 here, 146 previously) looked like doing better for a long way, close up despite jumping less than fluently at times, but finding no extra for pressure on the long run-in. It is still early days with him over fences and he may yet do better.
MAX FLAMINGO (c140 here and previously) has mixed it with some smart sorts over fences and should win a race or 2 in this sphere with his sights lowered slightly, already better as a chaser than he was as a hurdler. He was held up travelling comfortably enough, closed a bit going to what proved to be the last then one paced at a trip that may be a maximum for him.
BACARDYS (c133 here, 140 previously) is long in the tooth to be setting out over fences and unlikely to achieve the same heights as he did as a hurdler, in touch until left behind from what proved to be the second-last.
ONTHEROPES (c125 here, 152 previously) ran even further below the form of his smart Munster National win, in touch when making a mistake 4 out and soon in trouble.
ASHDALE BOB (c0 here, 142 previously) seemed never to recover from a bad error at the first, found to have sustained cuts and to be sore.
MR INCREDIBLE (c0 here, 139 previously) refused to race.
