chased leaders, went 2nd after 12th, hit 14th, led 2 out, narrowly headed last, rallied gamely run-in, just failed
mid-division, slightly hampered and lost place 10th, rallied chasing leaders 14th, travelling ok when mistake and unseated rider 3 out
mistakes towards rear, blundered 3rd, tailed off and pulled up after 6th
mid-division, mistakes 6th and 10th, pushed along and outpaced before 18th, plugged on
behind, blundered badly 9th, headway chasing leaders before 13th, weakened 3 out
raced keenly, chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, led 12th, hit 3 out, headed next, chased leading pair until weakened into 4th post
chased leaders, mistake 4th (water), towards rear and struggling 13th, tailed off 18th, pulled up after 3 out
held up in rear-division, plugged on in remote 6th run-in, but never on terms
mid-division, ridden and weakened 15th, behind when mistake and pulled up after 3 out
tracked leader 2nd, led 5th until 12th, chased leaders, mistake 18th, soon lost place, no chance when blundered last
held up towards rear, good headway chasing leaders 14th, travelling well in 3rd before 2 out, led last, strongly pressed and stayed on gamely run-in, all out
mid-division on inside, jumped slowly 7th, soon towards rear, tailed off pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, weakened 4 out, tailed off when blundered next
mid-division, mistake and lost place 14th (water), tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
led 1st until 5th, lost 2nd at 7th, weakened quickly before 11th, tailed off 13th, pulled up before next
held up and off the pace towards rear, good headway chasing leaders 14th, outpaced before 2 out, went modest 3rd on line, no chance with leading duo
never closer than mid-division, tailed off
raced widest, chased leaders, weakened quickly 14th, tailed off when mistake 16th, pulled up before next
The last two winners, Hazel Hill and It Came To Pass, are back for more as are last year’s runner-up and fourth, Billaway and Staker Wallace. Willie Mullins’ charge, favourite 12 months ago, beat the latter by a couple of lengths at Naas in January so must have every chance of going one better. Bob And Co made mistakes at Haydock but that was a third win in four starts in the UK and he had excuses in the other. STAND UP AND FIGHT might offer a bit of value given he was sixth in this race in 2019 when given too much to do. He has improved since and was a bit unlucky against the classy Jury Duty in his prep race at Thurles when beaten under a length. Red Indian is 2-2 between the flags this season but has not been as prolific under Rules.
Billaway (IRE) 8-11fav (12-2) Prominent, slight mistake 2nd, 5th at 8th, not fluent 4 out, pushed along briefly approaching straight and headway, on terms before 2 out and not fluent, soon led, stayed on well under pressure run-in, won at Naas 3m 1f hvy in Jan beating Staker Wallace (12-2) by 2 1/4l, 18 ran.
Bob And Co (FR) 11-8fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th, pressed leader 10th, led 12th, headed 14th, regained lead 4 out, going well 2 out, pulled clear before last, easily, won at Haydock 2m 6f (3) sft in Feb beating Wishing And Hoping (11-8) by 17l, 10 ran.
Chameron (FR) 10-11fav (11-2) Chased leaders, led 10th, not fluent and headed 3 out, challenged last, soon edged left and led, stayed on, won at Leicester 2m 7f (5) hvy in Feb beating Cousin Pascal (11-2) by 2 1/4l, 15 ran.
Hazel Hill (IRE) 6-4fav (11-10) Chased leaders, left 2nd 14th, jumped right 4 out, led last, edged left and drew clear flat, stayed on well, won at Ludlow 3m (5) sft in Jan beating Ravished (11-6) by 4 1/2l, 13 ran.
It Came To Pass (IRE) 6-1 (12-2) Held up towards rear, no impression 4 out, bad mistake 3 out and unseated rider, at Thurles 3m 1f hvy in Feb.
Latenightpass 40-1 (11-6) Led until 1st, prominent, led 10th, clear before 2 out, 3 lengths ahead last, 1 length ahead 100 yards out, held on well, won at Warwick 3m (6) sft in Feb beating Highway Jewel (10-9) by 3/4l, 17 ran.
Law Of Gold (IRE) 10-3 (11-6) Towards rear, headway chasing leaders 12th, disputing 3rd 15th, hit 4 out and next, one pace and no impression in 3rd before 2 out, 3rd of 11, 12 1/4l behind Silsol (11-2) at Doncaster 3m 2f (6) gs in Feb.
Mighty Stowaway (IRE) 10-3 (12-2) Mid-division, soon raced in 5th, 6th before halfway, pushed along approaching straight, soon effort, no impression between last 2, slight mistake last, one pace, 3rd of 9, 11 1/2l behind Stand Up And Fight (12-2) at Fairyhouse 2m 7f Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Monbeg Gold (IRE) 18-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, close 2nd and hit 4 out, hung left after, led and went left 2 out, hard ridden and went left again last, joined run-in, headed towards finish, 2nd of 11, nk behind Silsol (11-2) at Doncaster 3m 2f (6) gs in Feb.
Mr Mantilla (IRE) (12-2) Pr early, hdd 4th, ld agn 6th, kow from bef 2out, won at Stradbally 3m sft in Dec beating Bellow Mome (12-2) by 5l, 12 ran.
Porlock Bay (FR) 11-4 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 12th, went 2nd from 2 out, stayed on but held towards finish, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Sametegal (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f (6) hvy in Feb.
Ravished (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Led, pressed 6th, headed 12th, lost position 14th, pulled up before 4 out, at Haydock 2m 6f (3) sft in Feb.
Red Indian 1-4fav (11-3) Hdwy 10; led 15; clr 2 out; v easy, won at Alnwick 3m sft in Dec beating Killer Crow (11-0) by 15l, 6 ran.
Salvatore 7-4 (11-2) Chased leaders, closed 4 out, not much room 3 out, led last, stayed on well, won at Musselburgh 3m 3f (4) sft in Feb beating Alcala (11-10) by 2 1/4l, 13 ran.
Sonneofpresenting (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Led, headed 12th, close up 4 out, ridden before 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 16, 27l behind The Galloping Bear (11-2) at Fontwell 3m 2f (6) sft in Feb.
Staker Wallace (IRE) 10-1 (12-2) Chased leaders, slight mistake 2nd, 8th at 8th, not fluent 3 out, jumped slightly right 2 out and headway, effort in 2nd and kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 18, 2 1/4l behind Billaway (12-2) at Naas 3m 1f hvy in Jan.
Stand Up And Fight (IRE) 7-2 (12-2) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 6th 2 out, stayed on into 3rd before last, left 2nd last, kept on run-in, pressed winner close home, 2nd of 15, 3/4l behind Jury Duty (11-13) at Thurles 3m 1f hvy in Feb.
Wishing And Hoping (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Prominent, pressed leader 6th, led after 14th, headed 4 out, pushed along 3 out, weakened before 2 out, held when hit last, 2nd of 10, 17l behind Bob And Co (11-8) at Haydock 2m 6f (3) sft in Feb.
