mid-division on outer, pushed along in 5th approaching 3 out, soon no impression, no extra from 2 out
chased leader, closer before 6th and 3rd halfway, pushed along in 2nd early straight and no impression on winner when mistake last, no extra, kept on one pace
made all, clear 3rd until 6th, pushed along after 3 out and slight mistake next, stayed on well to draw clear run-in
chased leader, closer before 6th and 2nd halfway, 3rd 3 out, pushed along and mistake next, no impression approaching last, kept on one pace
mid-division, dropped to rear before halfway, pushed along and no impression 3 out, soon no extra, weakened
mid-division on inner, 4th 4 out, switched left and headway on outer approaching straight, pushed along and mistake 2 out, soon no impression, no extra run-in
towards rear, 6th halfway, pushed along early straight and no impression in 5th before 2 out, no extra
A Toi Phil won this last year and Ballycasey the year before. The ground was very heavy twelve months ago and Gordon Elliott's charge would be much happier with plenty of rain while Willie Mullins' veteran, who has won three times around here, was beaten a long way a year ago. Woodland Opera has completed a recent double over timber though his form over fences hasn't quite been up to this level and he was 8l behind BALLYOISIN when runner-up at Punchestown in June. The latter followed up in a Grade B handicap hurdle at Listowel and arrives in such good form that he'll take some beating though Balko Des Flos is an obvious danger. Henry De Bromhead's charge won the Galway Plate on his reappearance last year before beaten by A Toi Phil in this. His glory day came when beating the odds-on Un De Sceaux in the Ryanair at Cheltenham but that took a lot out of him and he flopped in the Melling Chase at Aintree so could just need this.
A Toi Phil (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, dropped to 7th 4 out, 6th next, soon ridden, went moderate 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 9 3/4l behind Un De Sceaux (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Apr.
Jury Duty (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, slight mistake 3rd, some progress into 12th 5 out, mistake 4 out, ridden and no impression before next, 7th of 18, 24l behind Snow Falcon (11-5) at Listowel 3m hcp sft in Sep.
Woodland Opera (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, disputed after 5th and led next, joined 3 out, ridden before next, narrowly headed after 2 out, stayed on to dispute again last, edged ahead run-in and kept on well under pressure close home, won at Down Royal 3m gf in Aug beating Peregrine Run (11-0) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Peregrine Run (IRE) 6-4fav (11-0) Soon tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to dispute 3 out, ridden to narrow lead after 2 out, joined and slight mistake last, narrowly headed run-in and no extra close home, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Woodland Opera (11-5) at Down Royal 3m gf in Aug.
Don't Touch It (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, closer in 2nd after 3 out and pushed along approaching last, ridden to challenge run-in, kept on well to lead close home, won at Listowel 2m 4f sft in Sep beating Listen Dear (11-2) by hd, 6 ran.
Ordinary World (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, pushed along halfway, ridden in 4th after 3 out, moderate 5th 2 out, no impression, mistake at last, 7th of 9, 26 1/4l behind Un De Sceaux (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Apr.
Rock The World (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Chased leaders early, slightly slow 2nd and soon held up behind leaders, 6th halfway, ridden and slight mistake 4 out, soon no impression, moderate 5th 2 out, kept on one pace behind, 4th of 7, 20l behind Rocky Court (11-7) at Ballinrobe 2m 1f Yielding in Aug.
Balko Des Flos (FR) 2-1 (11-7) Led, clear 2nd until 7th, jumped right 9th, joined 3 out, soon headed, not fluent 2 out, lost 3rd and weakened soon after, 4th of 6, 33 1/4l behind Politologue (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) sft in Apr.
Ballycasey (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway into 3rd at 5th, disputed 2nd briefly and mistake 4 out, ridden and disputed 2nd entering straight, no impression on winner from 2 out, moderate 3rd at last, no impression, 3rd of 8, 12 1/4l behind Ballyoisin (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 5f gd in Jun.
Ballyoisin (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) A little keen, tracked leaders on inner, 4th after 3rd, not much room approaching straight, challenged 2 out, soon led, stayed on well under pressure run-in, won at Listowel 2m hcp sft in Sep beating Shanning (10-7) by 1l, 14 ran.
