tracked leader, led 1st, headed 8th, remained prominent, weakened before 2 out, eased
held up in touch, headway 3 out, chased winner next, not fluent last, no extra
behind, headway under pressure after 3rd last, never on terms
held up mid-division, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on, never a threat
mid-division, under pressure before 4 out, soon no impression
in rear, weakening when mistake 3 out, tailed off
led until 1st, remained prominent, weakened 7th, soon behind
tracked leaders, led 8th, ridden 2 out, soon clear, easily
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, hard ridden 3 out, stayed on under pressure, never able to challenge
It will be interesting to see how South Leinster performs on his hurdling debut having run well on his only previous start in a Carlisle bumper but Howard Johnson's gelding would need to improve dramatically to get the better of GRANGECLARE GOLD, who gets the verdict ahead of Possol. Henry Daly's gelding has shown a decent level of form over fences having earned a rating of 145 but he has disappointed in two previous starts over timber and may be best watched on his reappearance over hurdles. Qianshan Leader looks the pick of Emma Lavelle's two runners ahead of Origami Imp having won well when beating Pugilist at Bangor last month but he has a 10lb penalty to carry for that effort. Oliver Sherwood's Arkose was good value for his defeat of Tim Vaughan's Mission Control at Huntingdon earlier this month but the runner up was under a penalty that day and he is likely to find this tougher. Oamaru Stone won a point-to-point in Ireland, has shown some promise for Paul Nicholls and he has to be respected. A safer option looks to be the Dessie Hughes-trained Grangeclare Gold, who has shown a decent level of form in Ireland, winning well in a novice event at Naas and last time finding just Premier Victory too good in a Grade 3 event at Down Royal; he can resume winning ways.
Qianshan Leader (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Always prominent, raced keenly, led 4th, headed approaching 6th, led 3 out, ridden out, won at Bangor 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct beating Pugilist (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Arkose (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Chased leading pair, went 2nd 4th, led next, headed after 6th, led again after next, not fluent 3 out, driven flat, stayed on gamely, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs beating Mission Control (12-0) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Grangeclare Gold (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway in 7th 3 out, ridden in 5th 2 out, stayed on to moderate 3rd last, kept on to 2nd close home, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 9l behind Premier Victory (11-0) at Down Royal 2m mrs nov hdl G3 sft.
Back Exit (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened before next, 13th of 17, well behind According To Dick (11-8) at Newbury 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Oamaru Stone (IRE) 5-2fav (10-13) Led, headed approaching 3 out where not fluent, soon weakened, 5th of 14, 20l behind Love of Tara (10-4) at Exeter 2m 7f am nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Origami Imp 14-1 (10-10) Always towards rear, 9th of 15, 19l behind Henry Hook (11-4) at Kempton 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Peachey Moment (USA) 25-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, never on terms, 10th of 14, well behind Carrolls Cross (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep.
Possol (FR) 7-4fav (11-2) Jumped left on occasions, close up on outside, mistake 11th, smooth headway to lead before 3 out, soon clear, won at Perth 3m chs (2) gd in Apr beating Ollie Magern (10-12) by 22l, 7 ran.
South Leinster (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led after 2f, ridden and headed over 1f out, not much room entering final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 15, 3l behind Last Of The Bunch (10-7) at Carlisle 2m 1f NH flat (6) gf in Oct.
