held up in rear, mistake 1st, not fluent 6th, struggling after next, well behind 3 out, tailed off
with leader, led after 2nd, headed after 4th, ridden and weakened well before 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders on inside, keen early, not fluent 2nd, soon lost place, pushed along 6th, ridden and headway before 3 out, well held 5th 2 out, weakened final bend, left 4th last
tracked leaders on outside, went 2nd 3rd, led after next, ridden and headed off final bend, just lost 2nd and fading when fell last
always towards rear, some headway before 3 out, no impression, well behind in 6th 2 out, tailed off
mid-division on outside, raced keenly, closed 4th, went 2nd next, going well 2 out, led off final bend, edged left briefly, stayed on well and well in command flat
tracked leaders, raced keenly, steadied 4th, effort after 7th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
held up rear of mid-division, headway 5th, hit 7th, 3rd and going off before 2 out, ridden final bend, went 2 1/2 lengths 2nd last, edged right and no impression on winner flat, kept on
led until after 2nd, lost place after next, effort 3 out, outpaced in 4th 2 out, no impression, left 12 lengths 3rd last, kept on
Sir Gerhard beat Three Stripe Life when winning last year’s Champion Bumper and again when the pair clashed in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month. This will be his first run beyond 2m under Rules but he did win over 3m between the flags, though he will be a very short price to become only the second seven-year-old to win this in more than 50 years. Stage Star made it 3-3 over hurdles when winning the Challow at Newbury in December but the last 18 winners of that Grade 1 to have come here have all been beaten. JOURNEY WITH ME will need to improve again to remain unbeaten but his win in a Leopardstown maiden has worked out really well and he won’t be far away if the forecast rains arrive to turn this into more of a stamina test. I Am Maximus found only the smart Hillcrest too good here on New Year’s Day and could sneak into a place.
Haxo (FR) 2-1fav (11-12) Led, pressed 3 out, pushed along after 2 out and not fluent last, soon headed, ridden and no impression on winner, kept on one pace, 2nd of 16, 2 3/4l behind Walnut Beach (11-4) at Punchestown 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Hemlock 9-4 (11-12) Led, joined from 3rd, led travelling well 3 out, ridden after next, joined at last, narrowly headed inside final furlong, no extra close home, 2nd of 25, 1 1/4l behind Irish Blaze (11-12) at Navan 2m mdn hvy in Feb.
I Am Maximus (FR) 7-5fav (11-7) Chased winner until before 4th, slow next, not fluent 6th, went 2nd again 2 out, disputing lead off final bend, no impression final 100 yards, kept on, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Hillcrest (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Jan.
Journey With Me (IRE) 4-11fav (11-10) Tracked leaders at slow early pace, improved to dispute lead at 3rd, led from next and made rest, slight peck on landing 2 out and ridden, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Naas 2m 3f sft in Feb beating Choice Of Words (11-5) by 3l, 7 ran.
Scarface (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up in midfield, smooth headway 4 out, pressed leader travelling best before last, ridden flat, stayed on, 2nd of 8, nk behind Skytastic (11-5) at Ascot 2m 3f (2) sft in Feb.
Sir Gerhard (IRE) 8-13fav (11-12) Led, increased advantage before 4 out where not fluent, soon reduced lead, slight mistake 3 out and last, ridden and asserted run-in, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Feb beating Three Stripe Life (11-12) by 6l, 8 ran.
Stage Star (IRE) 5-4fav (11-7) Tracked leaders on inside, switched right before 2 out, soon led, left in clear lead 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Newbury 2m 5f (1) sft in Dec beating West Balboa (11-0) by 6 1/2l, 7 ran.
Three Stripe Life (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, pushed along before last where mistake, ridden and no impression on winner closing stages, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Sir Gerhard (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Feb.
Whatdeawant (IRE) 2-1 (11-12) In touch, mid-division before 2nd, dropped to 6th after 7th, progress after 4 out, 3rd 2 out, soon ridden, dropped to 4th last where not fluent, no extra in 5th closing stages, 5th of 7, 8 1/2l behind Ginto (11-12) at Naas 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan.
