towards rear, jumped right 1st, last place 3rd, pushed along before 3 out, detached soon after, tailed off before last
restrained towards rear, steady headway 3 out, ridden before last, one pace
pressed leader, disputed lead 2nd, close up 4th, led narrowly 2 out, ridden and headed before last, stayed on strongly flat
prominent, ridden and almost upsides before last, one pace flat
pulled hard in midfield, hit 1st, still keen approaching 2 out, ridden and almost upsides before last, faded flat
held up towards rear, awkward 1st, some headway 2 out, ridden and no impression before last
always towards rear
midfield, lost ground 3 out, ridden after 2 out, soon beaten
restrained in midfield, awkward 1st, headway travelling strongly 2 out, almost upsides before last, close up flat, no extra close home
led narrowly, joined 2nd, narrow advantage 4th, headed 2 out, ridden before last, soon weakened
pulled hard early, towards rear, awkward 4th,not fluent 2 out and ridden, detached before last
keen behind leaders, not fluent 2nd, travelled strongly when switched to near rail and led before last where not fluent, quickened clear flat
PIED PIPER only beat Vauban by half-a-length at Punchestown in December when both were making their hurdling debuts. Little went right for the runner-up that day and he’s since got the better of the previously unbeaten Fil Dor, Il Etait Temps and subsequent winner Icare Allen in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown but Gordon Elliott’s first string hasn’t been standing still himself. He jumped superbly and travelled strongly throughout when winning a Grade 2 trial for this at the track in January and there is unlikely to be much between the market principals again. The home challenge is headed by Knight Salute, who is on a six-timer. He gave weight and a beating to Teddy Blue in last month’s Adonis at Kempton and earlier edged out the otherwise-unbeaten Porticello, a Grade 1 winner subsequently, in another Grade 2 at Doncaster. Doctor Parnassus is 2-2 and a nice prospect but upped in grade while Lunar Power is held on the form book.
Ages Of Man (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, bad mistake 3rd and rider briefly lost an iron, ridden in 2nd 2 out, 3rd before last, mistake at last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 14, 6 1/4l behind Hms Seahorse (11-7) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn sft in Feb.
Doctor Parnassus (IRE) 4-11fav (10-7) Raced keenly tracking leaders, 2nd going well 3 out, led before next where good jump and soon clear, never came off the bit, won at Taunton 2m 3f (4) gs in Feb beating Could Talkaboutit (11-0) by 9l, 10 ran.
Fil Dor (FR) 6-5fav (11-2) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway and disputed lead 4 out, led 2 out, soon pushed along and headed early straight, slight mistake last, no impression on winner run-in, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Vauban (11-2) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Icare Allen (FR) 4-9fav (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 2nd, 2nd when slight mistake 3rd, disputed lead from 6th, led travelling well 2 out, clear when slight mistake at last, eased inside final furlong, very easily, won at Fairyhouse 2m (1) sft in Feb beating Prairie Dancer (11-0) by 7 1/2l, 8 ran.
Il Etait Temps (FR) 40-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway into 5th after 2 out, pushed along and went 3rd early run-in, ridden and kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 5 3/4l behind Vauban (11-2) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Knight Salute 15-8fav (11-3) Mid-division on inside, steady headway 4th, 2nd going well turning in, led 2 out, 1 length ahead when left further clear at the last, ridden and stayed on well, won at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Feb beating Teddy Blue (10-12) by 3 1/4l, 11 ran.
Koi Dodville (FR) 100-1 (11-6) Raced in 4th until 5th, dropped to last before next, tailed off, last of 6, dist behind Porticello (11-6) at Haydock 2m (2) hvy in Feb.
Lunar Power (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Led, joined 2 out, ridden and headed before last, no impression, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Fil Dor (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Pied Piper 11-8fav (11-0) Bit keen early, waited with towards rear, smooth headway before 2 out, tracking leaders and switched right turning in, soon 2nd, led on bit before the last, soon clear, impressive, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gd in Jan beating Moka De Vassy (11-0) by 9l, 8 ran.
Porticello (FR) 3-10fav (11-6) Tracked leading pair, led 4th, clear when went right 2 out, stayed on strongly, very easily, won at Haydock 2m (2) hvy in Feb beating Skycutter (11-6) by 17l, 6 ran.
Teddy Blue (GER) 16-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, held up off the pace in last pair, smooth headway on inside tracking leaders after 3 out, 3rd before next, went 2nd between last two, keeping on and 1 length down when bad mistake last, not recover, 2nd of 11, 3 1/4l behind Knight Salute (11-3) at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Feb.
Vauban (FR) 9-4 (11-2) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, slight mistake 4 out, good headway travelling well on outer to lead early straight, asserted before last, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb beating Fil Dor (11-2) by 3l, 9 ran.
