led, disputed briefly 3rd, slight mistakes 4 out and 3 out, headed after 3 out, 4th and no extra when slight mistake 2 out, ridden and kept on one pace
soon chased leader, disputed briefly 3rd, ridden in 2nd before 2 out, no chance with winner, kept on same pace
chased leader, 3rd halfway, improved to lead after 3 out, eased clear before last, not extended
held up in rear, ridden and no impression entering straight, slight mistake 2 out, kept on one pace
held up, mainly 4th, slight mistakes 4 out and 3 out, closer entering straight, ridden in 3rd before 2 out, no impression 2 out, kept on one pace
VROUM VROUM MAG will be a warm order on her return to hurdling and the unbeaten chaser is impossible to oppose. Willie Mullins' mare has now won six times over fences since arriving from France, five of them in Grade 2 and 3 company, and it's only a matter of time before she scores at the highest level. Mrs Mac Veale is a tough handicapper who will enjoy the conditions while Dragon Fei easily beat subsequent dual winner Blazing West on her hurdling bow at Tipperary and was nowhere near her best in a Down Royal Grade 3 next time. Kates Benefit alternates between hurdles and fences and beat the useful Whiteout over timber at Killarney in May while Thanks For Tea was in excellent form during the summer on good going but has never faced conditions like today's.
Kates Benefit (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Close up, lost place and under pressure from 3 out, soon prominent again, no impression in 5th approaching straight, weakened and eased, last of 6, dist behind Whiteout (10-10) at Punchestown 2m 2f lst (1) sft in Nov.
Mrs Mac Veale (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along approaching straight and weakened 3 out, eased, completely tailed off, 13th of 14, dist behind Rossvoss (9-10) at Navan 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec.
Vroum Vroum Mag (FR) 1-4fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, mainly 3rd, 2nd 3 out and travelled well to lead next where slight mistake, asserted before last and stayed on welll, easily, won at Clonmel 2m 4f (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov beating Miss Dinamic (10-10) by 7 1/2l, 4 ran.
Dragon Fei (IRE) 10-3 (10-10) Tracked leader in 2nd and clear of remainder, no impression on winner 3 out, ridden and weakened from next, dropped to moderate 4th after 2 out, no impression, 5th of 8, 29 1/4l behind Listen Dear (10-10) at Down Royal 2m (1) Yielding in Oct.
Thanks For Tea (IRE) 2-1fav (11-10) Towards rear, closer in 5th with a circuit to race, 4th approaching 2 out, pushed along in close 3rd before last where bad mistake and fell, at Downpatrick 2m 7f hcp gd in Aug.
