mid-division, pushed along briefly after 3 out, headway home bend, hanging left and beaten when mistake last, weakened flat
mid-division on outside, outpaced after 3 out, towards rear 2 out, rallied last, edged left and kept on flat
chased leaders on inside, not much room and lost place after 2 out, well beaten after
prominent, took keen hold, led just after 2nd, headed home bend, soon weakened, eased
led until just after 2nd, prominent, led before last, soon headed, no extra towards finish
held up in mid-division, headway home bend, led before last, drew clear flat, impressive
held up in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway 2 out, soon switched right, upsides winner off home bend, 2 1/2 lengths down when mistake last, well held flat
chasing leaders 2nd, weakened from 2 out
in rear, not fluent 1st, slow 3rd, well beaten after 3 out
towards rear, not fluent and struggling 5th, well beaten before 2 out
held up in rear, pushed along after 3 out, some headway home bend, no impression, weakened
chased leaders, ridden after 2 out, weakened before last
towards rear, pushed along after 4th, ridden after 3 out, headway approaching last, stayed on well flat, went 3rd towards finish, no chance with winner
prominent, losing place gradually from 4th, well beaten after 3 out
chased leaders, ridden after 2 out, weakened before last
chasing leaders when not fluent 2nd, led home bend, headed before last, weakened
held up towards rear, ridden and headway before last, no impression
mid-division, headway on outside 2 out, edged right flat, stayed on same pace
held up towards rear, headway on outside after 2 out, switched right before last and unable to quicken, kept on flat
mid-division, not fluent 2 out, soon weakened
prominent, not fluent 2nd, lost place before 2 out, soon behind, pulled up before last
always in rear, well behind 2 out, pulled up before last
This may be a bit more open than is the norm but Willie Mullins has four entered in a bid to keep up a perfect record in the contest. Colreevy and Dolcita were second and third in a Fairyhouse Grade 3 last time but readily brushed aside by MINELLA MELODY, who can shrug off a penalty to complete the four-timer. Floressa was far from disgraced behind Lady Buttons at Doncaster when she probably needed the run. The Nicholls mare should also be in the firing-line and Gordon Elliott has a couple of contenders in Ard Abhainn and Mount Ida, with a strongly-run 2m likely to suit the latter. Emmas Joy has been in good form and holds Full Of Surprises and Vienna Court on the form book.
Ard Abhainn (IRE) 7-4fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, 2nd 3 out and headway to lead after next, ridden approaching last and kept on well run-in, won at Thurles 2m lst (1) Yielding in Jan beating Rebel Og (10-11) by 3l, 9 ran.
Emmas Joy (IRE) 7-4fav (11-2) Made all, clear 6th until flat, driven out, game effort, won at Warwick 2m 3f (1) hvy in Feb beating Flow Away (11-2) by 3l, 6 ran.
Floressa (FR) 6-4jfav (11-2) Raced on inside, chased leader until before 2 out, rallied into 2nd again between last 2, staying on same pace in 2nd when hampered run-in, hung left and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Lady Buttons (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 1f (1) gs in Jan.
Minella Melody (IRE) 10-3 (11-3) Prominent, on terms 1st, headed after 2nd and raced in 2nd, challenged and on terms again from 2 out, soon gained narrow lead, joined last, led run-in, quickly asserted and stayed on well, won at Fairyhouse 2m 2f (1) Yielding in Jan beating Colreevy (10-13) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Colreevy (IRE) 11-4fav (10-13) Led, a little slow at 1st and joined, led again after 2nd, flicked tail after 5th, joined from 2 out, soon narrowly headed, back on terms last, headed run-in, one pace, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Minella Melody (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 2f (1) Yielding in Jan.
Concertista (FR) 10-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway into 4th 2 out, went 2nd entering straight, soon ridden, close 2nd at last, no extra in 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 27, 4 3/4l behind Black Tears (11-4) at Leopardstown 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Dolcita (FR) 13-2 (10-11) Soon chased leaders, 4th after 2nd, slight mistake 3 out, 3rd approaching straight, effort from before 2 out, slight mistake last, one pace, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Minella Melody (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 2f (1) Yielding in Jan.
Fort Worth Texas (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, improved into 2nd at halfway, pushed along and disputed lead after 4 out, led 3 out, soon ridden clear, stayed on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 6f mdn hvy in Feb beating Tucanae (11-5) by 10l, 15 ran.
Full Of Surprises (FR) 11-4 (11-6) Prominent, not fluent 2nd, no impression on winner before 3 out, lost 2nd approaching next, weakened into 5th flat, 5th of 11, 33 1/4l behind Emmas Joy (11-6) at Wetherby 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Getaway Totherock (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, challenged turning in, jumped left from 3 out, led 2 out, ridden clear and continued to edge left after last, kept on well, won at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Hotter Than Hell (11-1) by 6 1/2l, 8 ran.
La Feline (FR) 5-2fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, slightly impeded before 6th, on terms approaching straight, soon led, went on between last 2, stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Limerick 2m 5f mdn Soft - Heavy in Jan beating Coosan Clover (11-4) by 17l, 14 ran.
Mount Ida (IRE) 8-11fav (11-6) Tracked leader in 2nd, slight mistake 5th, ridden in 2nd 3 out, 3rd entering straight, soon no impression on leaders, 3rd of 5, 11 1/2l behind Drury (11-6) at Fairyhouse 2m 2f Yielding in Jan.
Rayna's World (IRE) 15-8fav (10-12) Led, mistake 7th, headed last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 13, 8l behind Clondaw Caitlin (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
Rhythm Divine (IRE) 33-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 3rd when fell 3 out, at Leopardstown 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Rosie And Millie (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Led, jumped right throughout, sent forward approaching 3 out, headed after last, rallied closing stages, kept on, 2nd of 10, nk behind Desaray Girl (11-0) at Haydock 2m 3f lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Timetochill (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Kept out wide, led and soon clear, reduced lead 3 out, headed and outpaced when hampered run-in, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 4 1/2l behind Lady Buttons (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 1f (1) gs in Jan.
Vienna Court (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, mistake 1st, headway from 6th, disputing 2nd when not fluent last (normal 2 out), no impression on winner, kept on, 3rd of 6, 3 1/4l behind Emmas Joy (11-2) at Warwick 2m 3f (1) hvy in Feb.
Whitehotchillifili (IRE) 4-6fav (11-4) Tracked leader, led after 2 out, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f (4) hvy in Feb beating Martha Brae (11-4) by 3 1/4l, 9 ran.
Yukon Lil 3-1 (10-13) Waited with, 5th after 2nd, slight mistake 3 out, pushed along approaching straight, no impression before 2 out, one pace, 5th of 7, 15 3/4l behind Minella Melody (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 2f (1) Yielding in Jan.
Midnights' Gift 7-4fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, kept on run-in, 4th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Fantastic Ms Fox (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 1f lst fll (1) gs in Jan.
Anna Bunina (FR) 8-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, headway to dispute lead briefly 3 out, soon dropped to rear and pulled up quickly before next, at Fairyhouse 2m (1) hvy in Feb.
Red Archangel (IRE) 17-2 (10-10) Reluctantly led until went badly left 1st, in touch main group, driven before 3 out, lost place next, weakening when blundered last, 6th of 8, 24 3/4l behind Bolt N Brown (10-10) at Ludlow 2m fll (4) gs in Feb.