prominent, 2nd halfway and headway to dispute lead 3 out, headed next, pushed along and no impression in 4th before last, no extra run-in
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along and no extra after 2 out, weakened
mid-division, not fluent 1st, pushed along and no impression approaching 2 out, soon no extra, weakened
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along 2 out and ridden approaching last, kept on into 2nd run-in, no impression on winner closing stages
prominent and led after 1st, joined 3 out, pushed along and headed next, soon ridden and no extra approaching last
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, headway to dispute lead briefly 3 out, soon dropped to rear and pulled up quickly before next
towards rear, not fluent 1st and slow 4th, slight mistake 3 out, some headway early straight, progress between horses to lead last where not fluent, ridden and kept on well to assert final 100 yards
mid-division, pushed along approaching 3 out, no impression early straight and no extra after 2 out
held up in rear, closer on inner after 3 out, switched left and pushed along in 5th approaching last, kept on one pace run-in
held up towards rear, good headway on outer after 3 out and travelled well to lead next, soon pushed along and headed last, ridden and no extra run-in
Willie Mullins has four entries with Paul Townend choosing Gamin Original, who was awarded a bumper when last seen in France in May. He must have been showing plenty at home as the remaining trio all have chances. Hurdling newcomer Burning Victory is rated 94 on the Flat having scored at Chantilly last May - Hook Up, another winner in France, is rated 10lb lower. Gjoumi won a 1m4f bumper at Lyon Parilly in April and is another who could be anything. BAJAN EXCELL carried a big weight to victory on testing ground in a Limerick handicap last month so gets the nod though Battle Of Wills and Van Meegeren fought out the finish of a Naas maiden with the former just prevailing. Anna Bunina, four times a winner on the Flat last summer, made a very encouraging hurdling debut at Musselburgh and is another to consider.
Bajan Excell (IRE) 7-4fav (11-11) Soon led, joined approaching 4th, soon headed and disputed lead at times after, led again into straight, went on before last where slight mistake, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Limerick 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan beating Nobel Joshua (10-7) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Battle Of Wills (IRE) 10-3 (11-7) Mid-division, headway into 4th 3 out, close 4th 2 out, headway to dispute lead travelling well before last, pushed along run-in, led close home, cosily, won at Naas 2m mdn Yielding - Soft in Jan beating Van Meegeren (11-7) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
Gamin Original (FR) (10-3) 2nd of 6, at Moulins 1m 4f sft in May.
Great Bear 25-1 (8-12) Chased leaders and ran freely early, soon mid-division, pushed along 3f out, ridden and no extra 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 10, 12l behind Bold Approach (9-10) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Dec.
Van Meegeren (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden in 3rd after 3 out, improved to lead after 2 out, joined and strongly pressed before last, headed close home, not trouble cosy winner, 2nd of 17, 1/2l behind Battle Of Wills (11-7) at Naas 2m mdn Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Anna Bunina (FR) 7-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, hampered 2nd, headway after 6th, went 2nd 2 out, led before last, headed soon after last, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Thyme White (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m lst (1) sft in Feb.
Burning Victory (FR) (9-1) 6th of 9, 6 3/4l behind Pelligrina (9-1) at Chantilly 1m 4f Grp 3 fll gd in Jun.
Georgette Fun (FR) (10-12) won at Fontainebleau 2m 2f hvy in Nov beating Russian Memory (10-5) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Gjoumi (FR) (9-7) won at Lyon-Parilly 1m 4f sft in Apr beating Gitane Bleue (9-7) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Hook Up (FR) (9-5) 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Plage Keller (8-5) at Saint-Cloud 1m 2f hcp sft in Apr.
