held up in touch, lost place halfway, smooth headway 4f out, led narrowly 3f out, headed turning in, ridden and not quicken over 1f out, well held in 4th final furlong
held up in touch, outpaced over 3f out, never on terms, weakened over 1f out
held up mid-division on outside, steady headway over 4f out, challenged 3f out, led turning in, shaken up over 1f out, ridden and stayed on when hard pressed inside final furlong, held on well
in touch on inside, driven over 2f out, never on terms, lost place over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up behind, struggling 4f out, never a threat
pressed leader, lost place 3f out, soon outpaced, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, outpaced 3f out, soon ridden, never able to challenge, weakened final furlong
held up towards rear, headway on inside over 3f out, chased leaders turning in, ridden over 1f out, one pace and no impression final furlong
led, driven and headed 3f out, soon lost place, ridden and weakened over 1f out
behind, outpaced 3f out, never involved
tracked leaders, effort 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, no impression in 3rd inside final furlong
mid-division, driven to chase leaders over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, never able to challenge
mid-division, headway over 3f out, driven to chase leaders turning in, ridden into 2nd over 1f out, stayed on to press winner and every chance inside final furlong, just held
held up in rear, outpaced 3f out, soon ridden, never involved
A much smaller field than usual and it’s almost unheard of for Willie Mullins, who has won it nine times, to have only one runner. Blue Sari was a runaway winner at Gowran in January but Cue Card is the only four-year-old to have won this since the turn of the century. Cue Card’s trainer, Colin Tizzard, thinks a lot of Master Debonair, who showed a willing attitude to hold off Thyme Hill in a Listed race here in November. Envoi Allen made it three from three in bumpers when landing the odds in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown, giving weight and a beating to Meticulous. He appeared to have the measure of Abacadabras when that one crashed through the rails inside the final furlong so looks a threat to all while Tempo may be capable of better after getting off the mark at Thurles. Paul Nicholls doesn’t often target this race but has a couple of nice types running this year. ASK FOR GLORY was very impressive making his debut under Rules at Chepstow in December and has bags of scope so is preferred to Flic Ou Voyou, though the latter battled well to win for the second time at Wincanton on Boxing Day in a race that’s produced subsequent winners.
Abacadabras (FR) 10-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, closed up approaching straight, soon slightly impeded and raced in 2nd, not matching winner when ran out through rail inside final furlong, at Leopardstown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Feb.
Ask For Glory (IRE) 4-6fav (11-0) Made all, drew clear inside final 2f, stayed on strongly, easily, won at Chepstow 2m (4) sft in Dec beating Imperial Esprit (11-0) by 13l, 8 ran.
Envoi Allen (FR) 4-6fav (11-13) Prominent, on terms over 4f out, soon led, pressed and stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Feb beating Meticulous (11-10) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Flic Ou Voyou (FR) 2-1fav (11-9) Made all, clear when ran green and wandered approaching final furlong, shaken up and kept on strongly, unchallenged, won at Wincanton 1m 7f (5) gs in Dec beating Now Look At Me (11-9) by 3 1/4l, 10 ran.
Jelski (GER) 6-4fav (11-0) Chased leaders, every chance over 2f out, led over 1f out, green and soon edged left, stayed on well, driven out, won at Ffos Las 2m (5) sft in Jan beating The Cob (11-0) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Master Debonair 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on when hard pressed inside final furlong, held on gamely, won at Cheltenham 2m lst (1) gd in Nov beating Thyme Hill (11-0) by nk, 9 ran.
Meticulous (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 4th and effort over 1f out, kept on well without matching winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Envoi Allen (11-13) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Feb.
Sempo (IRE) 11-8fav (11-13) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to lead 4f out, clear over 1f out, easily, won at Thurles 2m gd in Feb beating Casamari Abbey (11-13) by 15l, 16 ran.
Some Detail (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, closed from over 3f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Chepstow 2m mdn (5) gs in Feb beating Golden Gift (11-5) by 2l, 15 ran.
Thor De Cerisy (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Chased leaders on inside, pushed along and outpaced 4f out, soon lost place, 8th of 11, 10 1/4l behind Eden Du Houx (11-4) at Ascot 2m lst (1) sft in Dec.
Thyme Hill 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders on inside, driven to chase winner turning in, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to challenge and every chance inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 9, nk behind Master Debonair (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m lst (1) gd in Nov.
The Glancing Queen (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Chased leaders on inside, went 2nd inside final 150 yards until no extra towards finish, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Eden Du Houx (11-4) at Ascot 2m lst (1) sft in Dec.
Blue Sari (FR) 15-8 (11-7) Mid-division and kept wide, 4th halfway, headway to lead approaching straight, quickened clear over 1f out, stayed on strongly, very easily, won at Gowran Park 2m sft in Jan beating Front View (11-7) by 11l, 7 ran.
Cascova (IRE) 3-1fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, went 2nd 1f out, stayed on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Glory And Fortune (10-12) at Cheltenham 1m 6f lst (1) gs in Jan.
