led and clear, reduced lead from over 5f out, headed over 1 1/2f out, soon no extra, one pace
chased leader, closer order from over 5f out, pushed along briefly over 2f out, led over 1 1/2f out, soon clear, stayed on well final furlong, easily
soon well off pace in rear, poor 3rd approaching halfway, pushed along 7f out, soon no danger
soon raced in distant 3rd, dropped to last approaching halfway, soon no danger
Willie Mullins won this last year with Shaneshill, who went on the finish second in the Festival Bumper at Cheltenham and take the championship event at Punchestown. Whether ROYAL CAVIAR can emulate him is another matter but he should begin with this as he would have remained unbeaten but for impeding Fine Rightly on his final start in a Navan Grade 2 in December. Round Tower was unfancied on his debut at Down Royal but defied his odds with a battling performance and can only get better. Tycoon Prince put the experience of his first run to good effect when he beat a couple of decent rivals at Galway and if this turned into a sprint for the line he would take some beating. La La Loopsey made a promising debut at Wexford in May, though that was on very fast ground.
Tycoon Prince (IRE) 2-1 (10-10) Settled 3rd, rear 5f out, ridden over 2f out, 3rd entering straight, stayed on to lead final 100 yards, kept on well close home, won at Galway 2m 4yo NH flat in Oct beating Rio Treasure (10-10) by 2l, 4 ran.
Brother Gold (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Led early, soon 2nd, closed up 6f out, soon on terms, pushed along from 4f out, 2nd approaching straight, 4th 2f out, soon no impression, 7th of 8, 28l behind Aengus (11-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 2f NH flat.
La La Loopsey (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Rear of mid-division, headway into 7th 3f out, soon ridden, 5th 2f out, kept on without threatening, 3rd of 15, 8l behind Wandering Star (10-10) at Wexford 2m mrs N H flat gf in May '13.
Round Tower (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, 2nd and clear of remainder halfway, led 3f out, ridden and challenged over 1f out, under pressure and kept on inside final furlong, held on, won at Down Royal 2m NH flat beating Danielle's Journey (11-4) by hd, 13 ran.
Daisy Spring (IRE) Medaaly mare out of More Antics.
