held up in rear, 5th from 3 out, ridden 2 out, soon no impression, weakened entering straight
chased leaders in 4th early, slight mistakes 1st and 2nd, 3rd from 4th, slight mistake 7th, 4th 5 out, slight mistake 4 out, ridden 2 out, soon no impression, weakened entering straight, slight mistake last
chased leader in 2nd, slight mistake 7th, ridden after 2 out, no impression on winner before last, kept on same pace
held up in 5th early, 4th from 6th, 3rd 5 out, slight mistake and ridden 2 out, soon no impression on leaders, kept on one pace
made all, shaken up briefly before last, soon asserted, eased run-in
chased leaders, mistake 1st, slight mistake 3rd, 4th from next, 5th and slight mistake 6th, rear from 3 out, ridden and slight mistake 2 out, no impression in moderate 4th entering straight, kept on one pace
Ruby Walsh rides Retour En France, a winner in France, but she hasn't raced for the best part of two years and all eyes will be on stablemate AIRLIE BEACH. Unbeaten in a bumper and two hurdle races, the sky's the limit for Willie Mullins' six-year-old who should continue in a winning vein. Water Sprite and Glendine River are recent winners but may not have the class of the selection. Thanks For Tea also has something to find while Ma Garrett is returning from an absence and Balofilo has a mountain to climb on these terms.
Balofilo 20-1 (10-4) Always towards rear, slight mistake 5 out, ridden and no impression 2 out, weakened, last of 9, 35 1/2l behind Head Turner (10-12) at Ballinrobe 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Aug.
Ma Garrett (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Prominent, 3rd after 3rd, slight mistakes 7th and 3 out, pushed along approaching straight, no impression approaching 2 out where slight mistake, weakened, 7th of 11, dist behind O Ceallaigh (11-8) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp hvy in Feb.
Retour En France (IRE) (10-10) 2nd of 10, 3l behind Castor Celeste (10-10) at Auteuil 2m 1f hvy in Oct.
Thanks For Tea (IRE) 4-1jfav (11-4) Held up, 7th halfway, progress into 5th 2 out, ridden in 4th last, kept on same pace into 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Head Turner (10-12) at Ballinrobe 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Aug.
Airlie Beach (IRE) 1-3fav (11-7) Led, joined 4 out, regained outright lead after 2 out and stretched clear before last, kept on well run-in, easily, won at Kilbeggan 2m 3f gd in Aug beating Jaime Sommers (11-2) by 23l, 3 ran.
Glendine River (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Mid-division, 9th halfway, progress after 3 out and went 3rd before next, ridden to challenge last, under pressure and led run-in, kept on well, won at Tramore 2m 5f mdn gd in Aug beating Inchiquin High (11-7) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Water Sprite (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Soon tracked leaders, hampered 4th, slight mistake 5th, switched right to challenge before last where on terms, led and stayed on best run-in, won at Bellewstown 2m 1f gd in Aug beating Colla Pier (11-8) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
