midfield, lost place 18th, pushed along 4 out, made no impression, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, led 9th, headed next, led 11th, headed next, pushed along after 3 out, ridden before last, slightly hampered flat, switched right final 100yds, kept on
mid-division, pushed along approaching 3 out where not fluent, never in contention
midfield, lost place 16th, mistake next, struggling when hit 3 out, soon faded
mid-division, headway to chase when bad mistake and sprawled on landing 4 out, unable to recover, pulled up before 2 out
close up, mistake 1st, hampered and unseated rider 2nd
chased leaders, pushed along 3 out, made no impression
not fluent on occasion, midfield, ridden along after 17th, pushed along before 3 out, plugged on one pace from 2 out
midfield, struggling when mistake 4 out, soon beaten
chased leaders, badly hampered and dropped towards rear 2nd, headway into midfield 3rd, chased leaders 13th, went third going well 3 out, went second 2 out, ridden to challenge approaching last where not fluent, hung left flat, kept on well
chased leaders when fell heavily 2nd
held up in rear, not fluent 4th (water), headway into mid-division 13th, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, hit 2nd, dropped to midfield next, slow 7th, hit 13th, struggling 16th, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, pecked 1st, headway to go prominent 3rd, pushed along 3 out, ridden before last, no extra from last
mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, never dangerous
towards rear on outer, good headway to join leaders 11th, disputed lead 17th, not fluent and headed next, led 3 out, stumbled next, soon pushed along, not fluent last, ridden flat, stayed on well
towards rear, badly hampered 2nd, mistake 15th, hit 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, blundered 15th, losing place when slow 18th, ridden after 3 out, no extra from 2 out
towards rear, hampered 2nd, headway into midfield 4 out, pushed along next, faded 2 out
led, jumped big 7th, headed 9th, led again next, not fluent and headed 11th, led again next, joined 17th, led again next, headed 3 out, pushed along approaching 2 out, ridden after last, rallied gamely flat
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Derek O’Connor has finished second three times in this and won the race in 2019 on Any Second Now. He rode Glenloe when that one was a beaten favourite at Punchestown in January but now switches to School Boy Hours for Noel Meade. The latter beat a huge field at Leopardstown and will be carrying J P McManus’ first colours. Larry is only a pound higher than when landing a Grade 3 at Ascot in the autumn but is usually found wanting beyond 3m whereas Smoking Gun is a strong stayer. The latter ran well at Fairyhouse last month and is partnered by Jamie Codd, seeking a fifth win in this. Thyestes Chase third Mister Fogpatches is another blessed with an abundance of stamina and he finished second over track and trip in December. The booking of Patrick Mullins, who has already been among the winners here this week, is a plus but Robbie James’ mount FRONTAL ASSAULT still has plenty of untapped potential over the larger obstacles and can make up for an unlucky run over hurdles here last year. Another Elliott runner, Fakir D'alene, and the in-form Lord Accord may prove the pick of the remainder.
Frontal Assault (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Prominent, disputed before 3rd, led and disputed after 4th, headed 9th, ridden in 4th entering straight, no impression before last, stayed on well run-in to press winner close home, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Floueur (12-0) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f Good - Yielding in Jan.
Fakir D'alene (FR) 15-2 (10-4) Chased leader, slight mistake at 6th, dropped to 12th after 8th, no impression in moderate 7th last, no extra, 7th of 17, 36l behind Birchdale (10-0) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Ain't That A Shame (IRE) 5-4fav (12-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, led travelling well before 3 out, pushed along after 2 out, ridden at last, stayed on well run-in, headed near line, 2nd of 9, nk behind Champagne Platinum (12-0) at Navan 3m Yielding in Jan.
Cat Tiger (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Waited with in mid-division, closer at 9th, chased leaders next, strong challenge run-in, stayed on gamely and won on the nod, won at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Cobolobo (11-4) by ns, 10 ran.
School Boy Hours (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Mid-division, 9th halfway, 6th and pushed along after 2 out, went 3rd at last, ridden and kept on well run-in to lead closing stages, won at Leopardstown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Dec beating Ben Dundee (11-3) by 1/2l, 28 ran.
Elegant Escape (IRE) 3-1fav (11-8) Prominent, niggled along before 13th, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up approaching next, at Exeter 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Smoking Gun (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) In rear, headway into 5th 3 out, ridden in 5th 2 out, went 3rd at last, stayed on well inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Full Time Score (10-13) at Fairyhouse 3m sft in Feb.
Mister Fogpatches (IRE) 11-1 (10-0) Mid-division, mistake 1st, headway into close 3rd 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace in 3rd from next, 3rd of 18, 5 1/4l behind Longhouse Poet (10-9) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Almazhar Garde (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Not fluent at times, soon led, ridden and joined 3 out, mistake and headed next, not fluent next, plugged on one pace, 2nd of 6, 8 1/2l behind Omar Maretti (11-5) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Mister Coffey (FR) 7-1 (11-4) Went left 1st, raced keenly in 3rd until blundered 6th, left 3rd next, went left 12th, lost 3rd briefly before 3 out, plugged on in remote 2nd run-in, never any chance, 2nd of 5, 21l behind L'Homme Presse (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) gs in Feb.
Mindsmadeup (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Led, hit 5th (water), hit 12th, awkward and headed 3 out, 2 lengths down disputing 2nd at the last, left in clear 2nd after the last, 2nd of 13, 2 1/4l behind Strictlyadancer (10-1) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Come On Teddy (IRE) 6-5 (11-8) In touch, mistake 11th, not fluent 13th, took closer order 15th, pushed along before 4 out, not fluent next, soon ridden, stayed on into second before last, kept on flat, 2nd of 4, 3 3/4l behind Omar Maretti (11-0) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Omar Maretti (IRE) 15-8fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, joined leader 3 out, led next, ridden out, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Almazhar Garde (11-12) by 8 1/2l, 6 ran.
Mint Condition 13-2 (10-4) Raced very wide, always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 12th, at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (1) hvy in Feb.
Glenloe (IRE) 11-8fav (12-1) Mid-division, pecked 1st, slight mistake 8th, ridden briefly in 7th before 3 out, slight mistake 3 out, ridden in 4th next, no impression entering straight, kept on one pace in moderate 3rd before last, 3rd of 11, 19 1/2l behind John Adams (11-2) at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp sft in Jan.
Chambard (FR) 13-8 (11-0) Tracked leader, not fluent 3rd, challenged 12th, led before next, not fluent last, shaken up flat, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 3m hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Storm Arising (11-3) by 3l, 3 ran.
Larry 8-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, awkward 4th, not fluent 12th, ridden before 15th, some headway before 3 out, one pace from before 2 out, 5th of 9, 12 1/2l behind Fortescue (10-12) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Feb.
Rightplacerightime (IRE) 5-2fav (10-7) Tracked leader, bad mistake and pecked at 1st, soon dropped to 5th, slight mistake at 4th, mistake at 6th and 4 out, lost place after 3 out (normal 4 out), mistake 2 out, kept on run-in, 6th of 14, 7 3/4l behind Discordantly (11-6) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Mar.
Powerstown Park (IRE) 9-4 (11-7) Waited with in rear, hit 9th, good headway into 2nd 4 out, soon in front, clear before next, blundered 2 out, soon recovered and kept on well from last, won at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Jan beating Oscar Robertson (11-7) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Didero Vallis (FR) 7-2 (12-5) Kept wide, chased leader until 8th, chased leaders, reached for next, outpaced and struggling in rear 10th, left remote 4th at 12th, tailed off, 4th of 5, 32 1/4l behind Rolling Dylan (12-5) at Sandown 3m (3) gs in Mar.
Janika (FR) 22-1 (11-5) In rear, mistake 2nd and 6th, well beaten after 10th, pulled up after, at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
Lord Accord (IRE) 6-4 (11-8) Tracked leader, ridden and under pressure before 3 out, outpaced and kept on at 2 out, weakened after final fence, last of 3, 9 3/4l behind Castle Robin (11-0) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
The Mighty Don (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Rear of mdi-division, ridden after 6th, not fluent 7th, soon behind, pulled up after 3 out, at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Rocco (IRE) 28-1 (10-8) Behind, mistake 3rd and 4th, soon behind, pulled up before 10th, at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
Red Infantry (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Led and went clear 12th, pushed along bypassing omitted 3 out, headed next, soon ridden, lost 2nd at the last, weakened run-in, 4th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Highland Hunter (11-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
