tracked leaders, effort over 3f out, ridden and lost place over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up behind, headway on outside 5f out, tracked leaders 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon clear, ran on well
in touch on outside, lost palce 3f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, lost place 3f out, weakened over 1f out
always towards rear, weakened over 3f out, tailed off
held up behind, some headway, over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden to challenge and every chance over 1f out until inside final furlong, kept on same pace, just held on for 3rd
chased leaders to halfway, soon behind, ridden over 3f out, never on terms
held up towards rear, some headway into mid-division over 3f out, weakend over 2f out
mid-division, lost place 6f out, soon behind
mid-division on inside, outpaced 3f out, ridden and stayed on same pace final 2f, never on terms
held up towards rear on outside, headway over 3f out, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace under pressure final furlong, no impression
held up behind, headway halfway, challenged over 2f out, ridden to challenge and every chance over 1f, kept on, not pace of winner inside final furlong
in touch on inside, headway over 3f out, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened 1f out
tracked leaders to 4f out, weakened 3f out
in touch on outside, ridden and lost place 4f out, soon behind
chased leaders, outpaced over 3f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace under pressure final 2f, just failed for 3rd, no impression
tracked leaders, led over 3f out, headed over 1f out, soon ridden, weakened inside final furlong
in touch, headway over 3f out, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace, never on terms
in touch, lost place over 3f out, headway under pressure on inside over 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, no impression
mid-division, lost place over 3f out, soon weakened
made most to over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
Willie Mullins often runs more than one in this but it isn't always the apparent first string that comes out on top. Sizing Tennessee may well come out best of his trio this time as he's still improving though Patrick Mullins, who rode Champagne Fever to victory 12 months ago, prefers the unbeaten Union Dues. David Pipe also has three entered and both the unbeaten Doctor Harper and Vieux Lion Rouge have decent claims but it speaks volumes that Tom Scudamore rides THE LIQUIDATOR instead. Well ahead of Sizing Tenessee on his debut at Fairyhouse last April, he gained valuable experience of the course when second in a Listed contest here in November before enjoying little more than an exercise canter at Exeter. He's being compared favourably with Liberman, who won this for the yard in 2003, and will have to go close to justify that belief. Golantilla impressed when making a winning debut at Cork in January and is another to consider while Shield is a rare runner at The Festival for Ballydoyle and won at Leopardstown 10 day ago. Purple Bay is held in high regard and overcame inexperience to win at Doncaster three weeks ago but Regal Encore's absence is a bit of a concern. Blackmail, Sgt Reckless and Le Vent D'Antan must have some sort of chance in a typically competitive bumper however.
Blackmail (FR) 6-4fav (11-12) Led and disputed, led halfway, asserted 2f out, easily, won at Leopardstown 2m N H flat in Jan beating Sizing Chile (11-12) by 3l, 10 ran.
Briar Hill (IRE) 1-5fav (11-12) Led or disputed lead, led approaching straight and ridden to assert 1f out, driven out and kept on well, won at Thurles 2m N H flat in Jan beating Boondooma (11-8) by 7l, 5 ran.
Caledonia 11-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, driven along over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd in closing stages, never nearer, 3rd of 10, 10l behind Oscar Rock (11-3) at Newbury 2m Listed NH flat (1) sft in Feb.
Doctor Harper (IRE) 11-4 (11-9) Raced wide, took keen hold, chased leader, disputing lead from 5f out, hung right from 2f out, challenged and hung right again over 1f out, soon switched right, led final 100 yards, just held on, won at Sandown 2m NH flat (5) gs in Feb beating The Clock Leary (11-2) by shd, 12 ran.
Drumlee (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, smooth headway over 4f out, close 4th travelling well 3f out, led early straight, soon edged clear, ridden and stayed on well final furlong, comfortably, won at Thurles 2m N H flat in Nov beating Tangled Web (11-11) by 3l, 11 ran.
Fascino Rustico 5-2fav (11-4) Held up in 4th, effort to chase leading pair over 2f out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression from over 1f out, lost 3rd final stride, 4th of 11, 19l behind Anonis (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m NH flat Listed (1) sft in Nov.
Golantilla (IRE) 7-4fav (11-5) Chased leaders, raced towards outer in straight travelling well, led from 2f out and soon clear, stayed on strongly, impressive, won at Cork 2m N H flat in Jan beating Overbury Prince (11-7) by 13l, 14 ran.
Hellorboston (IRE) 10-11fav (11-11) Made all, ridden and hard pressed 3f out, stayed on well, edged left at path entering fianal furlong, in command after, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f cond NH flat (6) sft in Feb beating Wild Card (11-1) by 5l, 5 ran.
I'm Fraam Govan 4-9fav (11-12) Soon settled in touch, smooth headway to chase leaders over 4f out, pushed along in 3rd 2f out, switched left well over 1f out, ridden and pressed leaders over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 4l behind Koolala (10-12) at Lingfield 2m n h flat (6) std in Jan.
Kayf Moss 5-4fav (11-4) Led, stayed alone on inside in backstraight, headed over 2f out, hung left inside final furlong, went 2nd close home, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Bally Rone (10-11) at Ffos Las 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Feb.
Milo Man (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, headway 4f out, led over 2f out, forged clear inside final furlong, impressive, won at Taunton 2m 1f NH flat (4) hvy in Feb beating Garryleigh (11-3) by 25l, 8 ran.
Posiden Sea (FR) 12-1 (11-8) Led, ridden and challenged 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, no extra in 2nd over 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Outlander (11-11) at Leopardstown 2m N H flat sft in Dec.
Pure Science (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) In touch, pushed along 3f out, edged left and kept on one pace final 2f, went 4th in closing stages, 4th of 10, 11l behind Oscar Rock (11-3) at Newbury 2m Listed NH flat (1) sft in Feb.
Regal Encore (IRE) 11-8fav (11-7) Held up in rear, smooth headway over 4f out, tracked leaders on bit over 3f out, led over 2f out, clear over 1f out, easily, won at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) sft in Oct beating Be Bop Boru (11-0) by 8l, 12 ran.
Sgt Reckless 13-8 (11-12) Held up towards rear, smooth headway on wide outside over 3f out, chased leaders 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Lingfield 2m n h flat (6) std in Jan beating Generous Ransom (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Sizing Tennessee (IRE) 2-5fav (11-12) Made all, pressed early straight, pushed along and kept on well from over 1f out, asserted inside final furlong, won at Gowran Park 2m N H flat hvy in Jan beating Kandinski (11-0) by 4l, 5 ran.
The Clock Leary (IRE) 40-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, disputing lead fom 5f out, joined and bumped over 1f out, narrowly headed final 100 yards, rallied close home, just failed, 2nd of 12, shd behind Doctor Harper (11-9) at Sandown 2m NH flat (5) gs in Feb.
The Liquidator 1-4fav (11-4) Led and disputed, led 8f out and soon clear, well clear final 4f, very easily, won at Exeter 2m 1f NH flat (6) hvy in Feb beating Turoyal (11-4) by 24l, 4 ran.
Union Dues (FR) 3-1 (11-11) Waited with 4th of the 5 for much, quickened up well to lead inside final furlong, soon clear, won at Navan 2m nat hunt flat Grade 2 (1) hvy in Dec beating Champagne James (11-11) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Le Vent D'Antan (FR) 7-4fav (11-4) Rear of mid-division on outer, headway from 4f out, 4th 3f out, travelling well entering straight, led over 1f out, soon ridden clear, eased close home, impressive, won at Leopardstown 2m 4yo nhf hvy in Jan beating Private Treasure (11-0) by 6l, 14 ran.
Purple Bay (IRE) Evensfav (10-7) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, challenged 1f out, soon took narrow lead, kept on gamely, just held on, won at Doncaster 2m NH flat (6) gd in Feb beating Wilde Blue Yonder (10-7) by hd, 16 ran.
Shield (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Settled in rear, went 6th approaching straight, ridden and headway to lead 1f out, kept on best under pressure final furlong, won at Leopardstown 2m 4yo nhf sft beating Grecian Tiger (11-12) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 4-5fav (11-4) Made all, came clear final 2f, unchallenged, won at Exeter 2m 1f NH flat (6) hvy in Feb beating Couldhavehaditall (11-4) by 14l, 7 ran.
Johnny Og 11-4 (10-4) Mid-division, went 4th over 3f out, led over 1f out, kept on well, won at Catterick 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jan beating Vinstar (11-3) by 8l, 7 ran.
