prominent, led 2nd, headed 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
chased leaders, mistake and lost place 3rd, closed before next, ridden 12th, weakened before 3 out
held up in mid-division, headway before 9th, lost place after 3 out, pulled up before last
led until 2nd, tracked leaders, led before 2 out, clear approaching last, stayed on strongly, impressive
towards rear on outside, hampered 7th, mistake 9th, struggling 11th, behind when pulled up before 4 out
prominent until 2nd, in touch, went 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, jumped right and dropped to 3rd last, stayed on same pace
prominent, blundered 4th, lost place before 6th, closed under pressure after 3 out, went 2nd last, kept on, no impression on winner
held up in mid-division, hit 4th, mistake 6th, lost place before 9th, struggling 11th, mistake 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
chased leader, lost place before 4th, hampered 6th, 7th and 9th, behind when pulled up before 11th
chased leaders on outside, went close 2nd after 3rd, led 3 out, headed before 2 out, weakened final 100 yards
chased leaders, mistake 3 out, weakened before 2 out
in rear, reminder after 2nd, not much room after 7th, soon closed, blundered badly 4 out, headway out, weakened before next
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, 6th and no impression when mistake 2 out, weakened after
pulled hard, held up, hit and hampered 3rd, fell 6th
held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, hampered next, headway 10th, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next
prominent, losing place when mistake 7th, struggling when hampered 4 out, well held after next
held up towards rear, hit 9th, hit 11th and 4 out, well beaten before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
in rear, bumped 6th, well beaten 12th, pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, mistake 8th, well beaten from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
jumped right, mid-division, hampered 4th, lost place 6th, struggling when pulled up before 11th
With only 7lb separating the 20 runners, this looks wide open but Gordon Elliott looks to hold a strong hand with his three runners. Jack Kennedy’s mount ROARING BULL could be a bit of value as he bolted up over this trip at Naas last month and is clearly in good heart at present. Cubomania won over course and distance in the autumn but has been on the go a long time and looked ready for a rest at Leopardstown. Ben Dundee needs to get back to his best but there are possibilities about A Plus Tard, who found only one too good in a Grade 3 at Punchestown in January, and also Riders Onthe Storm. Tom Taaffe’s charge beat a decent field last month at Punchestown but has been found wanting over this extra half-mile in the past. Newbury winner Huntsman Son and Good Man Pat are also interesting in the bottom half of the handicap while Highway One O One doesn’t know how to run a bad race. Walt won a Grade 3 over 3m at Kempton last month but has gone up 7lb and may not have the pace for this. Movewiththetimes, Tower Bridge and Shady Operator all run in the McManus colours and the market will probably indicate which is fancied most.
Highway One O One (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Led, jumped well, clear 8th until 11th, joined 2 out, headed last, not much room and switched right flat, held by winner, kept on, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Kildisart (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Red Indian 1-5fav (11-4) Tracked leader, blundered and unseated rider 7th, at Kelso 2m 6f (4) gd in Jan.
Cubomania (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Rear of mid-division, headway into 4th 3 out, moderate 3rd and ridden 2 out, no impression on leaders in 3rd at last, no extra, 5th of 13, 10 1/4l behind Whisperinthebreeze (10-1) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp gd in Feb.
A Plus Tard (FR) 5-4fav (10-8) Waited with, 5th after 4th, closed 8th, on terms approaching 2 out, led into straight, pressed approaching last, soon headed and one pace, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Winter Escape (11-8) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) gd in Jan.
Lough Derg Spirit (IRE) Evensfav (11-8) Jumped left throughout, led until after 8th, led again next, driven clear 2 out, stayed on well, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan beating Lillington (10-10) by 12l, 5 ran.
Ben Dundee (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, slight mistake 3rd, 4th after 4th, in touch in 5th when bad mistake 2 out and no extra after, 6th of 7, dist behind Winter Escape (11-8) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) gd in Jan.
Tower Bridge (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, moderate 4th 4 out, pushed along in moderate 4th on outer and no impression on winner 2 out, went moderate 2nd after last, never close enough to trouble easy winner, 2nd of 17, 15l behind Duc Des Genievres (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m 4f Yielding - Soft in Feb.
Militarian Evensfav (11-8) Prominent, joined leader 4th, led before 3 out, drew clear next, easily, won at Leicester 2m hcp (3) gd in Feb beating Eureu Du Boulay (10-11) by 3 3/4l, 3 ran.
Walt (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, close 2nd after 4 out, led 2 out, 2 lengths ahead last, driven out, won at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gd in Feb beating Double Shuffle (11-12) by 1l, 10 ran.
The Russian Doyen (IRE) 5-6fav (11-8) Tracked leader, mistake 8th, pushed along before 4 out, led 3 out, tended to idle in front but well in command final 100 yards, won at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gd in Jan beating Charming Zen (11-2) by 4 1/2l, 4 ran.
Springtown Lake (IRE) 11-4fav (11-10) Jumped left at times, led, hit 4 out and headed, chased leading pair, pushed along before 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 11 3/4l behind Adrien Du Pont (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Roaring Bull (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Mid-division, slow 1st, 6th halfway, headway 3 out and pushed along in 2nd before next, ridden to lead early run-in and stayed on well, won at Naas 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Feb beating Velocity Boy (11-12) by 14l, 9 ran.
Movewiththetimes (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway after 5 out, driven after next, chased clear pair 2 out, 3rd and held when fell last, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Riders Onthe Storm (IRE) 2-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders in 4th, took keen hold, improved to lead travelling well after 3 out, slight mistake 2 out, pushed along and clear entering straight, ridden run-in reduced advantage inside final furlong, kept on under pressure close home, won at Punchestown 2m Good - Yielding in Feb beating Impact Factor (11-3) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Huntsman Son (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 4th, closer in 3rd at 10th, went 2nd 3 out, led on bit approaching 2 out, 3 lengths ahead last, stayed on well, won at Newbury 2m 4f (3) gs in Mar beating Slate House (10-12) by 5l, 5 ran.
Shady Operator (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Rear of mid-division, took keen hold, closer in 5th 5 out, slight mistake 4 out, 4th next, ridden in 4th entering straight, no impression from 2 out, 4th of 11, 30 1/4l behind Ballyward (11-2) at Naas 3m (1) Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Good Man Pat (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leading pair on inside until 3rd, hit 5th blundered next, 3rd again 12th until next, regained 3rd before 2 out, one pace and no chance with 1st 2, 3rd of 4, 5 1/4l behind Bags Groove (11-5) at Kempton 2m 4f (1) gd in Feb.
Solomn Grundy (IRE) 11-2 (10-3) Towards rear, bad mistake 6th, headway into 6th at 14th, 5th 4 out, ridden from next, no impression, 5th of 16, 16 1/2l behind Dounikos (11-0) at Punchestown 3m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Feb.
Quamino (GER) 14-1 (11-1) Raced in 9th early, closer in 5th after 9th, effort straight, stayed on well run-in to lead near finish, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp gd in Feb beating Dakota Moirette (10-8) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Dell Oro (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Always last, outpaced 4th, not fluent next, struggling and no chance after, jumped right from 8th, tailed off, last of 3, dist behind Glen Forsa (11-0) at Sandown 2m (1) sft in Feb.
