held up behind, some progress into mid-division 4f out, weakened 3f out
mid-division until outpaced 5f out, stayed on again final 2f
chased leaders until halfway
held up towards rear, headway 5f out, effort over 3f out, one pace final 2f
chased leaders until over 5f out
raced keenly and travelled well for most of way, held up, good headway on bit from 5f out, led over 2f out, quickened clear
held up towards rear, headway from over 7f out, weakened over 3f out, eased
held up towards rear, headway from over 5f out, ridden 3f out, stayed on same pace final 2f
never better than mid-division
mid-division, headway 5f out, effort 3f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, headway 5f out, effort 3f out, stayed on same pace final 2f
in touch until halfway, soon tailed off
mid-division, headway over 7f out, ridden to dispute 2nd 3f out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 7f out, ridden and every chance briefly over 2f out, outpaced by winner, lost 2nd final furlong
chased leaders, ridden to dispute 2nd 3f out, weakened 2f out
mid-division, headway over 4f out, weakened 3f out, eased when beaten
held up towards rear, headway from over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
led, soon clear, headed over 2f out, kept on, soon no extra
behind, stayed on final 2f, never going pace to get competitive
chased leaders until 6f out
Willie Mullins has dominated this race over the years and saddles no fewer than eight of the 24 runners this year with Leopardstown winner SICILIAN SECRET looking the pick of them and getting the vote ahead of stable companion Quinola Des Obeaux and another Irish challenger Dunguib. Philip Fenton's gelding has shown improvement with each start and he could not have won with any more ease than when successful at Navan when last seen in December but this is much tougher. Cadspeed is the most experienced of Mullins eight runners and he has won his last two starts impressively, while stable companion Gagewell Flyer was good value for his Fairyhouse success first time out and could be anything. Quel Esprit, another trained by Willie Mullins, has won both his start so far and has to be considered along with Dermot Weld's Rite Of Passage, who has a similar profile. Paul Nolan's Shinrock Paddy has done everything asked of him in his three starts so far and is another Irish-trained runner that has to be respected but a bigger threat may come from Quinola Des Obeaux, who has been good value for his two successes at Punchestown and Cork. In a hugely competitive contest then it is Sicilian Secret that is marginally preferred to give Willie Mullins another winner in this event.
Abroad 11-8fav (11-6) Mid-division, headway into 2nd 3f out, niggled along in 2nd 2f out, ridden 1f out, kept on to lead close home, won at Limerick 2m ldy nhf sft in Dec beating Barrackhillboy (11-11) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
Benbane Head (USA) 9-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, ridden and close up 3f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 12, 5l behind Secret Stash (10-8) at Chepstow 2m nhf (6) hvy in Feb.
Bygones of Brid (IRE) 11-8fav (11-4) Chased leader, led over 5f out, easily, won at Ayr 2m nhf (6) hvy in Dec beating Twentynineblack (11-2) by 3l, 9 ran.
Cadspeed (FR) 5-6fav (12-0) Chased leaders, taken wide in 5th halfway, improved to 2nd 6f out, led 2f out, ridden clear final furlong, easily, won at Gowran Park 2m nhf hvy in Jan beating Deise Dan (11-7) by 15l, 7 ran.
Cranky Corner 8-11fav (11-12) Mid-division, headway in 6th entering straight, improved to 2nd travelling well 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden clear final furlong, easily, won at Fairyhouse 2m nhf sft in Jan beating Hidden Crack (11-5) by 6l, 14 ran.
Double Dash 9-4fav (11-4) Mid-division, ridden 4f out, led 3f out, headed narrowly 1f out, no extra, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Secret Stash (10-8) at Chepstow 2m nhf (6) hvy in Feb.
Dunguib (IRE) 11-4 (11-9) Settled 3rd, close 2nd from 5f out, led travelling best 2 1/2f out, ran on strongly, not fully extended, impressive, won at Navan 2m nhf Grd 2 hvy in Dec beating Luska Lad (11-11) by 13l, 8 ran.
Fennis Boy (IRE) 11-4fav (11-11) won at Clonmel 2m nhf gs beating Cass Bligh (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Gagewell Flyer (IRE) 13-8fav (11-9) Mid-division, closed halfway, 3rd travelling well approaching straight, on terms and challenged from 2f out, soon in front and ridden clear, stayed on, won at Fairyhouse 2m nhf hvy in Dec beating coole river (11-4) by 9l, 18 ran.
Henry King (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, smooth headway from 4f out, led going well 2f out, soon in command and pushed clear final furlong, won at Newbury 2m 4yo nhf (5) gs in Nov beating Pepe Simo (11-0) by 5l, 18 ran.
Lead The Parade (IRE) 5-2 (11-10) Mid-division, 9th halfway, headway in 6th 3f out, 5th 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, kept on well final furlong, won at Navan 2m nhf hvy in Feb beating The Biscuit Club (12-0) by 3 1/2l, 13 ran.
Long Strand (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Mid-division, 5th halfway, headway to 3rd 3f out, ridden in 5th 1 1/2f out, no extra in 4th 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 8l behind Sweeps Hill (11-1) at Leopardstown 2m nhf gs in Dec.
Meath All Star (IRE) 11-8fav (11-11) Led, headed 5f out, led again entering straight, ridden clear 1 1/2f out, stayed on strongly, easily, won at Cork 2m nhf gs in Jul beating Abroad (11-3) by 6l, 18 ran.
Pepe Simo (IRE) 4-6fav (11-2) Mid-division, headway 4f out, led on bit 2f out, wandered over 1f out, pushed clear final furlong, won at Taunton 2m 1f nhf (5) gs in Dec beating Pipe Banner (11-2) by 4l, 11 ran.
Quel Esprit (FR) 4-5fav (11-10) Headway 6f out, led entering straight, soon clear, easily, won at Leopardstown 2m 4f nhf sft in Dec beating Chargen (11-7) by 13l, 16 ran.
Quinola Des Obeaux (FR) 8-15fav (11-12) Made all, clear under 2f out, ridden and quickened over 1f out, stayed on strongly, impressive, won at Cork 2m nhf gs in Jan beating Miss Abrahnovic (11-0) by 15l, 5 ran.
Red Harbour (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden to take narrow advantage entering final furlong, driven out, won at Ascot 2m nhf Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec beating Bushwacker (11-4) by 1/2l, 15 ran.
Rite Of Passage 7-2 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway into moderate 5th 5f out, moderate 3rd entering straight, soon closed, ridden to lead 2f out, kept on well final furlong, comfortably, won at Naas 2m 3f nhf sft in Feb beating Quadrillon (11-10) by 6l, 8 ran.
Shinrock Paddy (IRE) 15-2 (10-13) Made all, clear 1f out, ran on well, won at Cheltenham 2m nhf lst (1) sft in Nov beating Express Leader (11-4) by 8l, 12 ran.
Sicilian Secret (IRE) 4-11fav (12-0) Held up, headway in 3rd before straight, challenged 1 1/2f out, led over 1f out, ridden to assert final furlong, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 2m nhf hvy in Feb beating Rare Commodity (11-10) by 4l, 7 ran.
Some Present (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Mid-division, headway on outer from 5f out, 8th over 3f out, 5th entering straight, quickened to lead over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Punchestown 2m nhf sft in Oct beating Gormanstown Cuckoo (11-3) by 4l, 25 ran.
Morning Supreme (IRE) Evensfav (11-9) Chased leaders, led after 5f, challenged 2f out, stretched clear from 1 1/2f out, very easily, won at Downpatrick 2m 2f nhf gs in Dec beating Fly The Fairway (11-9) by 19l, 15 ran.
Latin America (IRE) 11-4 (10-7) Tracked leaders, joined leaders 4f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on, driven out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f nhf (6) gd in Feb beating High Gales (11-3) by 2l, 12 ran.
Lightening Rod 9-4fav (10-0) Held up, headway over 4f out, led over 2f out, driven out, kept on well under pressure, won at Doncaster 2m nhf (5) gs in Feb beating Hudibras (10-9) by 2l, 15 ran.
