tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and dropped to rear next, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leader, close 4th halfway, headway travelling well early straight and led 2 out, pushed along approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in
led, slight mistake 3rd, pushed along and headed 2 out, 3rd and ridden before last, no impression run-in, kept on one pace
tracked leaders on outer, 2nd halfway, pushed along and dropped to 4th 2 out, no impression approaching last, no extra run-in
always towards rear, close up 3 out, 5th and pushed along 2 out, soon no impression, no extra run-in
ran 5th, closer 3 out, headway early straight, 2nd and pushed along after 2 out, kept on well run-in, not reach winner
MONKFISH is returning after a very long break but gets the nod over stablemate Asterion Forlonge. The former, the winner of seven of nine starts under Rules including Grade 1's over hurdles and fences at Cheltenham, has been absent for two years but looks the one to beat despite his stable companion returning from a year off with a good run behind Summerville Boy at Thurles. Fil Dor has a penalty for beating Sharjah in a Gowran Grade 3 and didn't run very well in the Coral Cup nor did Beacon Edge and Hms Seahorse. Master McShee is a Grade 1 winner on heavy ground and ran into some of the best chasers around subsequently.
Fil Dor (FR) 12-1 (12-0) Wore hood to post, mid-division, pushed along and lost place approaching 5th, soon towards rear, tailed off, 19th of 26, dist behind Langer Dan (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Asterion Forlonge (FR) 10-11fav (11-0) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, headway approaching straight and disputed lead briefly 2 out, soon pushed along, ridden and no impression on winner run-in, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Summerville Boy (11-0) at Thurles 2m 7f sft in Mar.
Beacon Edge (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Off the pace and always towards rear, 12th of 26, 19 1/2l behind Langer Dan (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Hms Seahorse (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Never closer than mid-division, weakened after 2 out, 14th of 26, 20 1/4l behind Langer Dan (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Master McShee 9-1 (12-0) Raced 3rd, slight mistake at 5th, no impression in moderate 3rd at 8th, weakened in moderate 3rd after 2 out, dropped to moderate 4th closing stages, last of 4, dist behind Energumene (12-0) at Cork 2m 1f (1) Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Monkfish (IRE) 10-11fav (11-12) Tracked leader, led briefly after 1st, 2nd halfway, mistake 3 out, soon pushed along and no impression on winner in straight, no extra run-in, 2nd of 4, 8l behind Colreevy (11-5) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding in Apr.
