made all, inclined to jump left, ridden approaching last, stayed on well
tracked leader, ridden from 2 out, not match winner and kept on same pace from before last
bumped with rival at 1st, in rear, ridden to go 3rd after 2 out, kept on without matching 1st 2 from before last
bumped with rival at 1st, tracked leaders, dropped to last after 2 out, no extra approaching last
tracked leaders, switched right before 2 out, soon no impression in 4th, one pace
This looks like another Mullins/Elliott battle with only Snow Falcon taking them on. Noel Meade's charge is a prolific winner and by no means a forlorn hope as he followed a run in the Cesarewitch with a cracking effort in a very strong beginners' event won by Mossback at Naas on his chasing debut. The winner is trained by Elliott who has three entries including the four-year-old Dinaria Des Obeaux, who followed a battling victory over the minimum on her chasing bow at Wexford with a facile success over this trip at Clonmel where her stamina came into play. She's receiving a huge allowance from stable companion DEATH DUTY but the latter, a Grade 1 winning hurdler, has looked a star since turning to fences and can complete a hat-trick after his Grade 3 victory at Punchestown. Rathvinden has won four of his last five over fences, the last two by a combined 38l, so he won't go down easily while neither Townshend nor Shattered Love can be ruled out in a cracking renewal.
Death Duty (IRE) 4-9fav (11-1) Tracked leader, led 6th, asserted after 2 out and clear last, stayed on well, very easily, won at Punchestown 2m 2f (1) sft in Oct beating Tout Est Permis (10-6) by 11l, 5 ran.
Rathvinden (IRE) 4-5fav (11-8) Tracked leader, jumped well, led 3rd, asserted 2 out and soon drew clear, kept on well, easily, won at Tipperary 2m 4f (1) hvy in Oct beating Ask Nile (11-2) by 18l, 7 ran.
Snow Falcon (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway into 5th 3 out, ridden in 4th after 2 out, went 2nd at last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 12, 3l behind Mossback (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Townshend (GER) 7-2cfav (11-8) Tracked leaders, slightly hampered and pecked 1st, slight mistake and dropped to rear 7th, ridden to go 5th after last, under pressure and no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 14 1/4l behind Rathvinden (11-1) at Galway 2m 2f (1) Yielding in Aug.
Dinaria Des Obeaux (FR) 4-6fav (9-11) Tracked leaders, left 2nd at 8th and led travelling well entering straight, asserted before 2 out, stayed on well, easily, won at Clonmel 2m 5f lst (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov beating Miss Eyecatcher (10-10) by 22l, 10 ran.
Shattered Love (IRE) 11-4 (10-10) Led and went a few lengths clear from 10th, reduced advantage before 3 out where not fluent, pushed along and headed before next, soon ridden and kept on run-in without matching winner, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Jury Duty (11-3) at Punchestown 2m 7f (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
