always towards rear, detached after 6th, no extra after 5 out, completely tailed off when jumped left and unseated rider last
ran 5th, pushed along and no impression approaching 2 out, no extra
ran 4th, 3rd 4 out, pushed along approaching straight and no impression in 4th 2 out, no extra
chased leader, 3rd halfway, 4th 4 out, went 2nd and some headway 2 out, ridden and kept on well run-in to lead close home
led early and ran freely, headed before 1st, chased leader in 2nd, slight mistake 6th and not fluent 5 out, pushed along and no impression in 3rd 2 out, no extra
always rear and detached throughout, tailed off after 5 out, weakened, completely tailed off
prominent and led before 1st, 5 lengths clear 3rd and extended advantage 5 out, pushed along entering straight and 4 lengths lead before last, ridden run-in and headed closing stages
Mary Frances loves this sort of trip and testing ground as she showed when just failing to concede 8lb to Westerner Point here last month. Willie Mullins and Paul Townend teamed up to win this last year and Rathvinden, third in the Grand National, will have his supporters despite not having run over hurdles since 2014. The stable also run Class Conti, another chaser though twice a winner over hurdles in France, and Total Recall, whose last run over timber brought a victory at Leopardstown in February last year. The latter may prove best of the champion trainer's trio though the vote goes to another chaser, THE STORYTELLER. Gordon Elliott's charge was sent to the USA for their Grand National over hurdles in October but was pulled up, though he has two victories over hurdles to his credit and may be good enough.
Allannahs Gold (IRE) 5-2 (12-2) Ld, 2l adv frm 6th, pressed aftr 5out, just hdd when lft in ld 3out, hdd bef last where outjumped & up , no ex, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Sydney Paget (12-2) at Lismore 3m sft in Mar.
Class Conti (FR) 3-1 (12-3) 8th of 16, 20 3/4l behind Turbo (12-3) at Punchestown 1m 7f sft in Nov.
Rathvinden (IRE) (10-10) 12th of 20, dist behind Carriacou (10-10) at Auteuil 3m 6f hvy in May.
The Storyteller (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Pulled up,, 8th of 12, dist behind Brain Power (11-2) at Far Hills 2m 5f gd in Oct.
Total Recall (IRE) (10-5) 6th of 12, 8 3/4l behind Jubilatoire (10-1) at Auteuil 2m 6f gd in Jun.
Kilkarney Mai (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) In rear, detached before 4th, well behind when pulled up before 7th, at Thurles 2m 4f Good - Yielding in Oct.
Mary Frances (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Disputed early, chased leaders from after 3rd, 5th halfway, ridden in 6th entering straight, stayed on to challenge 2 out, disputed 2nd before last, 2nd and kept on same pace run-in, no impression on winner, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Westerner Point (10-5) at Clonmel 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
