tracked leader in 2nd, slight mistake 9th, ridden in 2nd before 4 out, dropped to 4th 3 out, weakened
led, ridden and strongly pressed 2 out, headed before last, kept on same pace in 2nd run-in
tracked leaders in 4th, left 3rd at 11th, went 2nd 3 out, pushed along to lead before last, ridden and stayed on well run-in
held up in rear, not fluent at 2nd, reminder 4th, trailing 7th, pulled up before 11th
held up in 5th, left 4th at 11th, not fluent 4 out, went 3rd next, ridden in 3rd entering straight, soon no impression on leaders
tracked leaders in 3rd, not fluent at 5th and briefly pushed along, slight mistake 9th and again briefly pushed along, bad mistake and unseated rider at 11th
Willie Mullins has won six of the last eight including two year's ago with Pleasant Company. He's been feeling the effects of a tremendous effort when runner-up in the Grand National on heavy going but should now be approaching his peak. His stable also run Rathvinden, last year's National Hunt Chase winner at Cheltenham though unraced since a fine run in the Grade 1 Champion Novices' Chase at Punchestown in April. Outlander has been performing almost exclusively at the highest level since winning the 2017 JNWine at Down Royal so will appreciate the drop in grade while stable companion Alpha Des Obeaux has been in excellent form and holds Valseur Lido on their run at Thurles in November. MAGIC OF LIGHT has been sent to the UK for her last three runs, winning easily at Newbury and Ascot before finding 2m4f on the short side at Huntingdon. She gets the mares' allowance here and can make it count.
Outlander (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Held up in last, hampered at 1st, pushed along briefly next, disputed 3rd from 5th, pushed along from halfway, last 5 out, soon ridden and no impression, last of 4, dist behind Bellshill (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) gd in Feb.
Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) 20-1 (11-9) Prominent, 3rd halfway, headway to lead 12th, pushed along after 3 out and pressed when slight mistake next, ridden and headed last, rider soon lost whip, kept on one pace run-in, 2nd of 18, 1 1/4l behind Invitation Only (11-6) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Rathvinden (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) In rear and off pace, pushed along 5 out, ridden in 9th after 3 out, moderate 10th and left 8th 2 out, left moderate 6th approaching last, kept on without threatening go to 4th close home, 4th of 11, 7 1/4l behind The Storyteller (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding - Soft in Apr.
Champagne Harmony (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Rear of mid-division, reminders after 6th and in rear halfway, soon pushed along and detached, behind and pulled up before 5 out, at Fairyhouse 2m 7f hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Valseur Lido (FR) 25-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, moderate 5th 3 out, ridden and no impression from next, 9th of 13, 30 1/4l behind Whisperinthebreeze (10-1) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp gd in Feb.
Magic Of Light (IRE) Evensfav (11-4) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, rallied flat, not able to trouble winner, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Happy Diva (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f lst (1) gs in Jan.
Pleasant Company (IRE) 25-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, headway to lead 5th, headed 12th, pushed along and lost place before 3 out, soon no extra, 11th of 18, dist behind Invitation Only (11-6) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
