held up in rear, steady headway but still well off the pace 4 out, ridden 2 out, switched to near rail before last, stayed on strongly flat
prominent, lost ground 5th, in rear of midfield 6th, towards rear 8th, some headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, progress into distant 3rd before last, kept on flat
held up in touch, progress to chase leaders 4th, pressed leader 3 out, upsides 2 out where ridden, weakened before last
pressed leader, upsides 4th, led 6th, headed before 7th, lost place quickly and pulled up before 3 out
midfield, dropped towards rear 3rd, detached in rear 8th, ridden before 3 out, tailed off before 2 out
ridden handy, headway when not fluent 4 out, travelled strongly behind leaders when went wrong and pulled up before last
held up towards rear, awkward 5th, steady headway 4 out, ridden before 2 out, soon one pace
towards rear, jumped right 1st, still towards rear 3 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on inside and stayed on before last, never reached challenging position
towards rear, pushed along briefly after 3rd, ridden after 8th, not fluent 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
midfield, ridden before 2 out, kept on one pace from before last
held up in touch, close up 5th, pressed leader 6th, led before 7th, blundered 8th, joined 2 out, switched to near rail and narrow advantage last, headed soon after no extra flat
held up towards rear, smooth progress on outside 4 out, switched right and ridden to chase leaders before last, weakened flat
prominent, ridden to chase leader 2 out, weakened before last
led, not fluent 3rd, joined 4th, headed 6th, lost ground and pushed along 7th, weakened 4 out, pulled up after 3 out
held up in rear of midfield, progress between horses 4 out, travelled strongly to press leader before last, led flat, stayed on strongly to pull clear flat
towards rear, some headway 4 out, mistake 3 out, well behind and ridden 2 out, beaten when pulled up before last
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A classy stayer on the Flat, Falcon Eight came good over hurdles at the second attempt. Front-runner Stag Horn seems sure to enjoy this step up in trip while Bardenstown Lad has only been beaten once in five starts. John McConnell also runs Mahler Mission, who beat The Real Whacker in a Grade 2 at Doncaster in January. Minella Cocooner made all in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month and has done nothing but improve but will not get an easy lead here. Ginto also likes to race up with the pace and he never saw another rival when taking a Naas Grade 1 in January having easily beaten Eric Bloodaxe at Navan earlier, though both of those races were over 2m4f. It's difficult not to be impressed with the imposing Hillcrest and he proved he stays 3m last time at Haydock, though his jumping can still leave something to be desired and he looks a chaser in the making. SHANTREUSSE (NAP) gives the impression he’ll stay all day and he’s a real mudlark. He will be in his element if some of his rivals take each other on a long way from home with Rachael Blackmore adept at playing the waiting game.
Ballygrifincottage (IRE) 7-4 (10-12) Waited with in rear, gained a place 6th, chasing leaders before 3 out, challenging in 2nd between horses when hit 2 out, shaken up and rallied last, sustained challenge run-in, stayed on to lead inside final 100 yards, bit in hand, won at Lingfield 2m 7f (2) hvy in Jan beating High Stakes (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Bardenstown Lad 8-15fav (11-8) Tracked leader close up, pressed leader home turn, ridden after 3 out, led and hung right after 2 out, in command when not fluent last, kept on well, won at Musselburgh 3m (2) gd in Feb beating Where It All Began (11-5) by 11l, 3 ran.
Brorson (IRE) 9-4fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 9, 6 1/4l behind The Big Galloper (10-3) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Classic Getaway (IRE) 1-3fav (12-0) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, not fluent 2 out where left 2nd and led entering straight, pushed along before last and kept on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn Yielding in Jan beating The Waltzer (12-0) by 4 3/4l, 13 ran.
Eric Bloodaxe (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, disputed briefly after 4th, 2nd halfway, mistake 4 out and not fluent next, 3rd before 2 out, soon pushed along and dropped to rear entering straight, weakened, last of 7, dist behind Minella Cocooner (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 6f (1) Yielding in Feb.
Ginto (FR) 5-4fav (11-12) Led narrowly, pressed at 3rd, increased advantage at 6th, reduced lead 4 out, pushed along before 2 out where jumped right, ridden before last, asserted run-in, kept on, won at Naas 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan beating Grand Jury (11-12) by 4 1/4l, 7 ran.
Good Time Jonny (IRE) 17-2 (10-13) Rear of mid-division, headway after 3 out and closer in mid-division next, 6th and pushed along entering straight, went 3rd on outer before last, ridden and led 100 yards out, kept on well, won at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Feb beating Rightplacerightime (10-0) by 1 3/4l, 24 ran.
Green Book (FR) 3-1 (11-3) Raced wide in close 3rd, tracked leader 2nd, led next, headed and pecked 8th, chased winner until pushed along and lost two places before 3 out, weakened, 4th of 7, dist behind Hillcrest (11-5) at Haydock 3m (1) hvy in Feb.
Hillcrest (IRE) Evensfav (11-5) Tracked leader, led 2nd until next, not fluent 6th, led again 8th, awkward 3 out, over 3 lengths ahead at the last, went further clear run-in, won at Haydock 3m (1) hvy in Feb beating Crystal Glory (11-0) by 8l, 7 ran.
Mahler Mission (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Not always fluent, chased leader, led before 3 out, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Doncaster 3m (1) gd in Jan beating The Real Whacker (10-12) by 2l, 7 ran.
Minella Cocooner (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) Led, joined briefly after 4th, pressed 2 out, asserted early straight and 5 lengths clear before last, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 6f (1) Yielding in Feb beating Minella Crooner (11-10) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Ramillies (IRE) 4-9fav (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, not fluent 2nd 6th and 3 out, headway to lead entering straight and asserted before last, pushed out and stayed on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn Soft - Heavy in Feb beating The Waltzer (11-4) by 7l, 13 ran.
Shantreusse (IRE) 7-5fav (11-0) Tracked leader, not fluent 6th, 2nd halfway, pushed along entering straight and headway to lead after 2 out, ridden and drew clear run-in, won at Clonmel 3m (1) hvy in Feb beating Eye Van (11-0) by 5l, 6 ran.
Stag Horn 10-3 (11-0) Made all, soon clear, reduced lead 7th, ridden 2 out, ran on, unchallenged, won at Warwick 2m 5f (1) sft in Jan beating Gentleman At Arms (11-0) by 2l, 7 ran.
The Nice Guy (IRE) 6-5fav (12-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, slight mistake 3rd, improved to dispute lead 3 out, led entering straight, joined briefly 2 out, soon ridden and led, pressed at last, stayed on well run-in, won at Naas 2m 3f mdn Good - Yielding in Jan beating The Short Go (12-0) by 8l, 22 ran.
Where It All Began (IRE) 9-4 (11-5) Led narrowly, not fluent 4 out, pressed home turn, ridden before 2 out, headed after 2 out, well held from before last, stayed on one pace, 2nd of 3, 11l behind Bardenstown Lad (11-8) at Musselburgh 3m (2) gd in Feb.
Falcon Eight (IRE) 13-8 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, closer after 3 out, soon 3rd, ridden to press leaders entering straight, disputed 2 out, soon narrow lead, asserted before last, kept on well run-in, won at Thurles 2m 7f mdn Yielding in Feb beating Rajsalad (11-4) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Idas Boy (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Always prominent, led briefly 3rd, not fluent 5th, 2nd halfway, challenged 2 out, ridden and close 2nd before last, kept on one pace, no impression on winner closing stages, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Gerri Colombe (11-7) at Thurles 2m 7f Good - Yielding in Jan.
The Real Whacker (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Raced wide, held up in rear, keen early, headway after 8th, switched left and went 2nd from 3 out, not fluent 2 out, hung left 120 yards out, held but stayed on, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Mahler Mission (10-12) at Doncaster 3m (1) gd in Jan.
