tracked leader, 5th halfway, under pressure and weakened quickly over 2f out, came wide entering straight, eased closing stages
in rear, 20th 6f out, good headway over 2f out, ridden entering straight, kept on without threatening final furlong
slowly away, soon raced towards rear, 17th 7f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out, kept on same pace
towards rear, progress to 14th 7f out, headway on outer 2f out, ridden entering straight, kept on without threatening final furlong
missed break, niggled along in rear early, 19th 6f out, no impression 2f out, ridden over 1f out, one paced final furlong, never a factor
in touch on inner, 3rd halfway, 4th entering straight, ridden into 2nd under 1f out, kept on, no extra and dropped to 5th close home
mid-division, dropped to 15th 7f out, progress on outer 2f out, came wide entering straight, ridden over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, never nearer
ran freely, chased leader on outer, 4th halfway, under pressure and weakened quickly over 2f out, eased over 1f out
towards rear, 18th 6f out, no impression and ridden over 1f out, weakened under 1f out, never a factor
chased leader on outer, 6th halfway, progress 2 1/2f out, led under 2f out, asserted and ridden over 1f out, reduced advantage final 100 yards, headed closing stages and dropped to 4th
chased leader, 8th halfway, headway 2f out, ridden approaching straight, progress to 3rd final 150 yards, no extra closing stages
mid-division, 10th halfway, headway under 2f out, ridden approaching straight, ran on well between horses under 1f out to 2nd close home, not trouble winner
dwelt and awkward leaving stalls, soon chased leader on inner, 7th halfway, headway over 1f out, not much room on rail final 150 yards, no extra
rear of mid-division, 13th halfway, headway between horses over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer
chased leader, 9th halfway, progress and ridden approaching straight, kept on well final furlong to 3rd close home, never nearer
rear of mid-division, 12th halfway, no impression and ridden approaching straight, one paced final furlong
rear of mid-division, 11th halfway, progress over 1f out, ridden under 1f out, ran on strongly to lead closing stages
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, lost place 1f out, soon ridden and weakened
soon led, pushed along and headed under 2f out, ridden over 1f out, lost place under 1f out, soon weakened
rear, 16th 7f out, no headway, weakened final furlong, never a factor
Willie Mullins has six entered as he bids to land the opening day’s feature for a fourth year running but Foveros will need a few to drop out to get a run. Patrick rides Sharjah so it is safe to assume he’d be the stable pick. He’s a classy hurdler but hasn’t scored in nine runs on Turf on the Flat so comes with risks attached and he did finish behind Dalton Highway and De Name Escapes Me at the Curragh. Jamie Codd gets the leg up on the former so he is much respected while Derek O’Connor partners Noel Meade’s 10-year-old. Princess Zoe is an improving mare and Great White Shark won this 12 months ago but is still 8lb higher. A Grade 1 winner over timber in February, A WAVE OF THE SEA wasn’t given a hard time in a Grade 3 at Tipperary on his reappearance. That will have put him spot-on for this and he could be very well treated back on the Flat given his progress over the winter. Run For Mary showed her Curragh run behind Mutadaffeq to be all wrong when easily landing the odds at Bellewstown but this is much tougher.
Time To Study (FR) 20-1 (9-4) In touch, lost place over 4f out, soon outpaced, weakened and eased over 2f out, 25th of 30, dist behind Stratum (9-7) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp stks (2) sft in Oct.
Dalton Highway (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) In rear, short of room over 2f out, switched and pushed along under 2f out, headway into 3rd and ridden 1f out, improved to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Curragh 2m hcp gd in Jun beating De Name Escapes Me (8-12) by 1 1/4l, 18 ran.
King's Vow (FR) 25-1 (9-7) Pushed along briefly early, soon led and went on, reduced lead and headed over 6f out, remained prominent, pushed along again approaching straight, no extra from over 1f out, 7th of 10, 6 1/2l behind Lynwood Gold (8-11) at Curragh 1m 6f hcp Yielding in Jul.
Sharjah (FR) 4-1 (9-11) In rear, checked on inner 2 1/2f out, ridden under 2f out, 7th 1f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 18, 8l behind Dalton Highway (9-5) at Curragh 2m hcp gd in Jun.
Insignia Of Rank (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Rear of mid-division, progress to 6th halfway, ridden and no impression over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 7th of 17, 7 1/4l behind Patrick Sarsfield (9-13) at Navan 1m 2f hcp Yielding in Jul.
Grandmaster Flash (IRE) 6-1 (8-3) Chased leaders, raced on inner straight and headway travelling smoothly, kept on without matching front pair inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Lynwood Gold (8-11) at Curragh 1m 6f hcp Yielding in Jul.
Great White Shark (FR) 40-1 (11-0) Pressed leader, led 3 out, ridden and headed between last 2, one pace when left 2nd after last, kept on, 3rd and held near finish, 3rd of 23, 3 1/4l behind Indefatigable (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Tiger Tap Tap (GER) 5-1 (11-5) Chased leaders and off pace, took closer order halfway, effort straight, switched right over 1f out and one pace, 10th of 14, 7 1/4l behind Tandem (11-5) at Leopardstown 1m 4f gd in Jul.
Aircraft Carrier (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, reminders after 7th where 9th, no impression 9th, pulled up before 3 out, at Navan 2m 7f hcp hvy in Feb.
Zenon (IRE) 20-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened, 16th of 18, dist behind Dalton Highway (9-5) at Curragh 2m hcp gd in Jun.
De Name Escapes Me (IRE) 13-2 (8-12) Rear of mid-division, progress on outer into 5th 3f out, led travelling well under 2f out, ridden and strongly pressed 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 18, 1 1/4l behind Dalton Highway (9-5) at Curragh 2m hcp gd in Jun.
Run For Mary (IRE) 11-10fav (11-2) Mid-division, good headway into 2nd 2f out, soon ridden, close 2nd 1f out, improved to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well close home, won at Bellewstown 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Jul beating With A Start (10-8) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Mister Blue Sky (IRE) 7-1 (10-1) In rear, pushed along under 2f out, kept on without threatening under hands and heels final furlong, never involved, 11th of 15, 7 1/4l behind Pearl Warrior (10-0) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp gf in Jun.
Dalileo (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along early straight, 3rd and ridden 2f out, no impression in 4th 1f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 15, 8 1/4l behind Princess Zoe (10-2) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp Yielding in Jul.
Golden Spear 11-1 (11-2) Well off pace in rear, distant 7th 3 out, never involved, 5th of 9, 33l behind Mengli Khan (11-2) at Kilbeggan 2m 4f Good - Yielding in Jul.
Mutadaffeq (IRE) 7-4fav (12-0) Soon mid-division, slight mistake 5th, closed up approaching straight, not fluent 2 out and chased winner, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Quamino (12-0) at Roscommon 2m 5f hcp gd in Jun.
Princess Zoe (GER) 4-1 (10-2) Rear of mid-division, headway approaching straight and travelled well to lead over 2f out, pushed out to assert inside final furlong, kept on well, easily, won at Curragh 1m 4f hcp Yielding in Jul beating Tara Dylan (9-9) by 5l, 15 ran.
Takarengo (IRE) 22-1 (11-1) Rear of mid-division, towards rear over 4f out, headway on outer early straight and 5th 2f out, pushed along and kept on one pace from over 1f out, 5th of 15, 7 1/2l behind Princess Zoe (10-2) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp Yielding in Jul.
A Wave Of The Sea (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Rear of mid-division, slight mistake 4th and pushed along briefly, towards rear and no impression after 3 out, no extra, never a factor, 12th of 14, 30 1/4l behind Aramon (12-0) at Tipperary 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Jun.
Machine Learner 22-1 (8-9) Waited with, keen towards rear, some headway on outer halfway, no impression 2f out, weakened, last of 10, 23 1/4l behind Lynwood Gold (8-11) at Curragh 1m 6f hcp Yielding in Jul.
Great Bear 4-11fav (11-0) Led, not fluent 3 out, pushed along and headed when wandered before 2 out, soon no impression on winner, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 10l behind Cafe Con Leche (11-7) at Limerick 2m hvy in Mar.
The Mouse Doctor (IRE) 28-1 (8-7) Mid-division, 8th halfway, under pressure 2 1/2f out, no impression on inner over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 11th of 16, 10l behind Rayounpour (8-6) at Cork 1m 4f hcp Yielding in Jul.
Foveros (FR) 5-2fav (10-1) Mid-division, headway to 5th 4f out, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 13th of 18, 9l behind Tonkinese (9-11) at Curragh 1m 4f gd in Jun.
