held up in rear, headway on inside 3 out, switched right before 2 out, stayed on well into 3rd when mistake last, no impression flat, kept on
mid-division, headway 16th, ridden after 4 out, no impression before 2 out
in touch, closed to challenge 18th, every chance 3 out, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, weakened after 16th, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, lost place 11th, tailed off 16th, pulled up before 17th
towards rear, bumped 9th, headway approaching 18th, went 4th last, no extra flat
mid-division, slow 5th, jumped left and bumped 9th, ridden and struggling 14th, pulled up before 4 out
behind, tailed off 11th, pulled up before 17th
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, no extra 2 out
prominent early, chased leaders, led 18th, headed 3 out, not much room 2 out, no extra
mid-division, mistake and lost place 3rd, mistake 4th, mistake and last 9th, pulled up before 11th
chased leaders, lost place 18th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, led 3rd, headed 4th, led 5th, jumped left and bumped rival 6th, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, mistake 11th, headway 17th, challenged before last, every chance flat, just held close home
towards rear 7th, tailed off 16th, pulled up before 2 out
in rear, mistake 1st, well beaten 18th, pulled up before 2 out
started some way behind rest, in rear, headway 15th, weakened 17th, pulled up before 18th
led until mistake 3rd, led next, headed 5th, bumped 6th, mistake 14th, 15th and 16th, lost place before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway 15th, led 3 out, edged left and headed 2 out, weakened last
in touch in mid-division, mistake 10th, closed before 4 out, going strongly on outside when mistake 3 out, still going well when led 2 out, hard pressed and edged left flat, holding 2nd close home
prominent, not fluent 17th, weakened before 2 out
towards rear, tailed off 11th, pulled up before 17th
soon handy, lost place 17th, well behind when pulled up before 2 out
NonRunner
NonRunner
NonRunner
The winner has leading amateur Derek O’Connor in the saddle today and this is his time of year. This is always run at a fast pace and Defi Bleu stays further so goes on the shortlist, as does Captain Cattistock. Fergal O’Brien’s 10-year-old has yet to run a bad race around here and has only been raised a pound for his latest second in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh where Slipway was a well beaten favourite. Royal Thief has won two of his three starts over fences but Annual Invictus has been hurdling this season. Lord Accord was in good form in the autumn but needs better ground. Beauport was rated 148 when beating the useful Millers Bank at Carlisle in October and runs off 143 now after a couple of setbacks. He still has scope over fences but has never raced over a trip this far. Stumptown is on a hat-trick but this is a big step up in class and it would be no surprise if the lightly-weighted Fairyhouse winner Ballykeel were to prove the pick of the Irish runners.
Mr Incredible (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) In rear, slow 1st, not fluent 8th, headway from 14th, pushed along 17th, stayed on from before omitted last, went 2nd final 100 yards, no impression on winner, 2nd of 13, 2 3/4l behind Iwilldoit (11-10) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Annual Invictus (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Made all, went clear 3rd until 8th, ridden before 2 out, stayed on strongly run-in, won at Newbury 3m hcp (3) gd in Feb beating Barbados Buck's (11-3) by 3l, 8 ran.
Beauport (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Chased winner until 9th, mistake next and 4 out, mistake 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 5, 20 1/4l behind The Real Whacker (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Jan.
Farinet (FR) 25-1 (11-11) Led, not fluent 1st, jumped left 3rd, headed and tracked leader after 4th, weakened 16th and dropped away, 10th of 14, 35 1/2l behind Cap Du Nord (10-8) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Rapper 10-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, outpaced 18th, stayed on from 2 out, went 5th last, no impression, 5th of 12, 9 1/4l behind Castle Robin (11-5) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Dunboyne (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Mid-division, towards rear and slight mistake 8 out, soon mid-division again, closer in 5th after 5 out, ridden in 4th 3 out, stayed on to dispute between horses 2 out, kept on run-in, just denied at line, 2nd of 18, shd behind Carefully Selected (11-8) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Coeur Serein (IRE) 13-2 (10-11) Held up 3rd, pushed at times, closer 9th, went 2nd at 10th, not fluent 5 out, ridden before 3 out, driven and hung left between last two, led last, hung left and drew clear run-in, won at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Feb beating Unanswered Prayers (10-5) by 9l, 3 ran.
Slipway (IRE) 4-1fav (12-0) Mid-division on inside, hit 11th, modest 6th and outpaced home turn, weakened quickly before 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 13, dist behind Magna Sam (10-8) at Musselburgh 3m 7f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Defi Bleu (FR) 25-1 (10-13) Rear of mid-division, progress after 5th, 6th after 11th, no impression before last, ran on run-in to 3rd close home, never nearer, 3rd of 12, 6 1/4l behind Coko Beach (11-9) at Punchestown 3m 4f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Royal Thief (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders on outer, 4th on wide outer 3 out, 2nd travelling well 2 out, pushed along and improved to lead at last, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp hvy in Jan beating Fakiera (12-5) by 10l, 10 ran.
Lord Accord (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Towards rear on outside, not fluent 4th, struggling 8th, well beaten from 3 out, 6th of 7, dist behind Gold Tweet (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Punitive (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, ridden and no impression after 4 out, soon no extra, 10th of 18, 36 1/4l behind Carefully Selected (11-8) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Dr Kananga 25-1 (11-2) Soon led, headed approaching 3 out, lost 2nd 3 out, weakened before next where mistake, 7th of 12, 25 3/4l behind Makin'yourmindup (11-2) at Haydock 3m (1) gs in Feb.
Stumptown (IRE) 6-4fav (11-9) Always prominent, led 2 out, came clear before the last, stayed on strongly, won at Sandown 3m hcp (3) gd in Feb beating Your Own Story (11-1) by 7l, 7 ran.
Fontaine Collonges (FR) 7-2fav (10-11) Off the pace towards rear, never involved, 10th of 14, dist behind Quick Wave (11-8) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Musical Slave (IRE) 2-1fav (11-1) Held up behind leaders, closed before 11th, went 2nd and jumped left 2 out, switched left just after last, led flat, idled, did enough, won at Exeter 3m hcp (2) gd in Feb beating Mister Malarky (12-0) by nk, 6 ran.
Anightinlambourn (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Waited with towards rear, headway chasing leaders 12th, switched right and went 2nd between last two, led run-in, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Punitive (11-5) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Emir Sacree (FR) 25-1 (11-5) Raced keenly, led after 1st, headed 4th, led next, not fluent 15th, headed 16th, jumped left and not fluent 18th, ridden before 2 out, 3rd and held final 100 yards, kept on, 3rd of 12, 3 3/4l behind Castle Robin (11-5) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Western Zara (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Rear of mid-division, 12th and pushed along after 4 out, closer 2 out, ridden and no impression entering straight, no extra, 12th of 28, 23 1/2l behind Real Steel (10-8) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Dec.
Angels Dawn (IRE) 15-8fav (10-5) Towards rear, 9th at 12th, headway at 16th, 3rd before 2 out where mistake and unseated rider, at Punchestown 3m 4f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Ballykeel (IRE) 10-3 (11-9) Tracked leader, not fluent in 3rd at 7th, travelled well to lead after 3 out, increased advantage before last, driven out, won at Fairyhouse 3m 1f Yielding in Feb beating Clonmeen (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Coo Star Sivola (FR) 11-1 (11-6) Jumped left, led until 3 out, no extra 2 out, 5th of 6, 12 1/4l behind Seigneur Des As (10-2) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Didero Vallis (FR) 5-1 (11-5) Led until 5th, chased leader, mistake 12th, lost 2nd before next weakened soon after, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Boldmere (11-9) at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Chambard (FR) 14-1 (11-9) Behind after slow jump 1st, closed a bit 8th, not fluent and pushed along 11th, went 4th before 4 out, no impression, 4th of 6, 24 1/4l behind Musical Slave (11-1) at Exeter 3m hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Captain Cattistock 10-1 (11-5) Chased leader until 3rd, chased leaders, bumped 5 out, went 2nd again 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 4 1/4l behind Magna Sam (10-8) at Musselburgh 3m 7f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
One More Fleurie (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Prominent, mistake and lost position 15th, struggling 19th, pulled up before 4 out, at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
