See also » Ronald Pump makes an excellent start to chasing
Obviously he won here in his last handicap hurdle off 136 and went up to 145. We could have gone for an easier beginners chase but we said we'd see how good he was. I told Adam to go out there and be confident on him because I think he's a right good horse. He switched off lovely there today and when Adam asked him he just quickened. I'm delighted with it. He's won on better ground all last year, he's versatile and will go on any sort of ground. He's a proper little horse. He jumped brilliant and travelled away lovely. Obviously Bapaume is a serious horse and you couldn't be coming here mad confident. I was hopeful and I'm not overly shocked to be honest. We could look at a good race now for him. Today we just wanted to get around safely and enough it. We could look at three miles as the further the better for him. He's an out and out stayer. If this was run yesterday I probably would have entered him for the Grade 2 on Sunday but because it was today I was thinking if I had entered him and he'd flopped I'd look silly. There is no panic with him. I think he's a nice horse and he did that nicely anyway. It's great that he switched off well enough there today as he was a bit keen last year but he's grown up a bit. Matthew J Smith, trainer

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Bapaume (FR), trained by W.P. Mullins, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal

P. Townend, rider of Bapaume (FR) trained by W.P. Mullins, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount got very tired from the second last

GENERAL INFORMATION The following Raceday Stewards acted on behalf of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board at this race meeting: Mr. Laurence McFerran (Chairman), Mr. Jack Rearden, Mr. Philip Caffrey, Dr. Paddy Molony, Mr. P. D. Matthews

Following a course inspection this morning by the clerk of the course, and in consultation with the racecourse manager and the stewards, a decision was taken to omit fence number three from all chases today due to ground conditions

A steeplechase for four years old and upwards that have not won a steeplechase
Weights - 4-y-o 11st 3lbs ;5-y-o and up 11st 12lbs ;Mares allowed 7lbs ;