mid-division on inside, outpaced after 2 out, well held before last
chased leaders, pushed along after 2 out, unable to quicken before last, 6th at the last, fading flat
held up in mid-division, not much room before 2 out, well beaten final bend, jumped left last
mid-division, headway from final bend, 7th last, stayed on flat, nearest finish
held up in touch in, ridden and no impression before last
always in rear, mistake 3 out
held up towards rear, some headway from final bend, 10th last, no impression
held up in touch, not much room briefly after 2 out, headway after final bend, 4th last, went 2nd flat, stayed on, not trouble winner
in rear until fell 2 out
prominent, not fluent 5th, outpaced after 2 out, soon weakened
held up in touch in mid-division, ridden and losing place before 2 out
held up towards rear, some headway and 11th last, not trouble leaders
held up towards rear, headway after final bend, 5th last, went 4th flat, stayed on, unable to challenge
held up in touch, ridden, not much room and switched left before last, no extra
held up rear of mid-division, travelled strongly, switched left before 2 out, headway stands side from final bend, led before last, quickened flat, readily
in touch in mid-division, headway after 3 out, hung left and every chance before last, edged left and lost 2nd and held flat, no extra close home
held up towards rear, headway after final bend, soon every chance, 3rd last, fading flat
held up in touch in mid-division, headway after 2 out, 9th last, weakened flat
mid-division, headway 2 out, ridden and 8th last, kept on, no impression on leaders
held up in rear, headway and switched left before last, never involved
prominent, led after 3 out, headed before next, soon weakened
held up in mid-division, took keen hold, ridden after 2 out, well held when fell last
prominent, lost ground before 5th, weakened from 3 out
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, no impression from 2 out
led, mistake 2nd, not fluent 4th, headed after 3 out, weakened from 2 out and pulled up before last
held up towards rear, some headway before last, never dangerous
An impossible-looking renewal with many of the top yards having multiple entries. Cormier won a competitive handicap here in January and followed up at Kelso, though is no certainty to confirm that most recent form with FAIVOIR, who is 5lb better off. Bridget Andrews was on Dan Skelton’s supposed second string Mohaayed when he won this in 2018 at 33/1 and her mount could cause another upset today as a spell chasing clearly hasn't blunted his speed. Cormier was well beaten, along with Bua Boy and Jesse Evans, when Skelton’s West Cork won the Greatwood here in November and the latter is a danger and Tritonic can be a useful performer on his day, though doesn’t appear to like Cheltenham. Willie Mullins has a quintet of runners with Limerick maiden winner State Man partnered by Paul Townend but Danny Mullins’ mount Temper Chapter Two is just as unexposed and has crept into the race at the bottom of the handicap, though he needs to brush up his jumping. Top Bandit is 3-4 over hurdles so far and is possibly the pick of Gordon Elliott’s four runners while Peter Fahey runs Saturday’s Imperial Cup winner Suprise Package under a penalty. I Like To Move It and First Street were second and third respectively in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury and Colonel Mustard has been running well in smart novice company so can’t be ignored.
Call Me Lyreen (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, 11th before 4 out, good headway before last, 3rd after last, ridden to lead narrowly final 150 yards, kept on well, won at Leopardstown 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Feb beating Magic Tricks (11-6) by 1 1/4l, 27 ran.
My Mate Mozzie (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, 8th after 3rd, progress to moderate 4th entering straight, no impression on principals, weakened before last, tailed off, 4th of 8, dist behind Sir Gerhard (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Feb.
Tritonic 16-1 (11-11) Chased leader until mistake 3rd, chased leaders, hit next, weakened 2 out, 11th of 14, 16 1/2l behind Glory And Fortune (11-8) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Ballyadam (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, 13th before 4 out, under pressure entering straight, weakened before last, 20th of 27, dist behind Call Me Lyreen (11-4) at Leopardstown 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Feb.
Felix Desjy (FR) 33-1 (11-1) Soon led, reminder after 1st, increased lead before 2nd where jumped left, reduced lead at 3rd, headed at 4th, led before 4 out, headed before 3 out, weakened quickly before 2 out, last of 7, dist behind Teahupoo (11-10) at Gowran Park 2m (1) hvy in Feb.
Dysart Diamond (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) Ran 3rd, no impression before 2 out and soon pushed along, ridden and no extra run-in, 3rd of 5, 12 1/2l behind Burning Victory (10-13) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Faivoir (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, closer turning in, chasing leaders when not clear run and switched left over 1f out, then switched sharply right, stayed on inside final furlong, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Cormier (10-7) at Kelso 2m hcp (2) sft in Mar.
First Street 14-1 (11-6) Mid-division, pushed along home turn, headway chasing leaders when hit 2 out, not clear run and switched left run-in, kept on in 3rd never going pace of leading duo, 3rd of 14, 2 3/4l behind Glory And Fortune (11-8) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Cask Mate (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, chased leaders after 1st, 8th before 4 out, headway on inner after 2 out (normal 3 out), under pressure and weakened quickly before last, 14th of 27, 27l behind Call Me Lyreen (11-4) at Leopardstown 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Feb.
I Like To Move It 12-1 (11-3) Chased leaders on inside, went 2nd at the last, driven and strong challenge run-in, just failed, 2nd of 14, shd behind Glory And Fortune (11-8) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Jesse Evans (IRE) 11-2fav (11-8) Raced keenly tracking leaders, weakened before the last, 9th of 19, 14 1/4l behind West Cork (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Farout (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Rear, 7th after 3rd, progress after 2 out (normal 3 out), no impression in moderate 5th entering straight, weakened before last, tailed off, 5th of 8, dist behind Sir Gerhard (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Feb.
West Cork 7-2 (11-0) Towards rear, smooth headway to chase front rank after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 12, 16 1/4l behind Tritonic (11-0) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Irascible (FR) 11-2 (11-9) Rear of mid-division, 12th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 12th of 16, 12 3/4l behind Carrig Sam (10-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp sft in Feb.
State Man (FR) 1-7fav (11-12) Prominent and disputed, led after 3rd, shaked up briefly after 2 out, soon asserted, clear last, easily, won at Limerick 2m mdn sft in Feb beating Plains Indian (11-12) by 12l, 14 ran.
Colonel Mustard (FR) 14-1 (11-12) In touch, 4th before 3rd, 3rd after 4 out, ridden and no impression on leaders before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Sir Gerhard (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Feb.
Suprise Package 20-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, steady headway out wide before 2 out, went 2nd going well between last two, led before last, soon clear, easily, won at Sandown 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar beating Lively Citizen (10-1) by 9l, 22 ran.
Top Bandit 5-6fav (11-5) Tracked leader, improved to challenge and slight mistake 3 out, disputed next, travelled well to lead after 2 out, clear before last, easily, won at Punchestown 2m Yielding in Dec beating Hammersmith (11-0) by 4l, 6 ran.
Cormier (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Held up, good headway chasing leaders before the last, ridden to lead 1f out, stayed on well (both hurdles in home straight omitted due to low sun, 4 hurdles jumped on circuit), won at Kelso 2m hcp (2) sft in Mar beating Saint D'Oroux (10-11) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Gua Du Large (FR) 25-1 (10-5) Rear, 15th before 6th where slightly hampered, good headway before last, led narrowly final 150 yards, kept on best under pressure, won at Fairyhouse 2m hcp gd in Nov beating Glan (9-12) by nk, 18 ran.
Eclair De Beaufeu (FR) 50-1 (11-1) Towards rear, 16th before 4 out, under pressure after 3 out, weakened after 2 out (normal 3 out), 21st of 27, dist behind Call Me Lyreen (11-4) at Leopardstown 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Feb.
Tax For Max (GER) 13-8fav (11-2) Mid-division on inner, not fluent 2nd, 6th from halfway, took closer order from 3 out, pushed along to go 2nd before last and ridden run-in, no impression on winner and kept on same pace close home, 2nd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Farout (11-9) at Galway 2m gd in Jul.
Bua Boy (IRE) 17-2 (11-2) Ran 4th behind clear leaders, moderate 4th at 5th, not fluent 3 out, effort entering straight, moderate 3rd last, kept on one pace run-in, no threat, 3rd of 6, 19 1/4l behind Whiskey Sour (11-2) at Leopardstown 2m 2f Yielding in Mar.
Broomfield Burg (IRE) 11-4fav (10-13) Waited with in mid-division and keen, good headway chasing leaders 4 out, every chance 2 out, weakened run-in, 7th of 14, 7 1/2l behind Glory And Fortune (11-8) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Stepney Causeway 2-1 (10-12) Mainly jumped left, pressed leader until led 3rd, ridden 3 out, joined next, headed next, no extra and lost 2nd run in, 3rd of 4, 11 3/4l behind Nelson River (11-0) at Leicester 2m (3) sft in Feb.
Tempo Chapter Two (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 5th, headway into 3rd travelling well entering straight, led after 2 out, clear and mistake at last, ridden and stayed on well run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m sft in Feb beating Hollow Sound (11-12) by 4 1/4l, 7 ran.
