always towards rear, took keen hold, mistake 3rd, never a factor
soon tracked leaders on outer, took keen hold, fell 4th
towards rear, mistake at 1st, no impression from 3 out, kept on without threatening straight
mid-division, pushed along after 4 out, no impression
in rear, slight mistake at 1st, moderate 13th 3 out, kept on without threatening straight, never a factor
mid-division, headway into 4th 3 out, 3rd and ridden after 2 out, 3rd at last, progress into 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on well close home
rear of mid-division on inner, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
rear of mid-division, moderate 12th after 4 out, no impression, kept on without threatening straight
tracked leader in 2nd, disputed lead from 3rd, led 3 out, ridden and headed next, under pressure in 2nd when checked briefly on inner after last, dropped to 3rd inside final furlong, no extra
led, joined at 3rd, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened
in rear, no impression from 3 out, kept on one pace
mid-division, mistake at 1st, closer in 6th 3 out, soon ridden, 7th 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders, improved to lead 2 out, soon pushed along, ridden at last, stayed on well run-in
in rear, closer in mid-division and pushed along after 4 out, kept on one pace straight
mid-division, closer in 8th and slight mistake 3 out, pushed along in moderate 6th next, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, took keen hold, 4th 3 out, ridden and weakened entering straight, moderate 8th 2 out, no impression and pulled up before last
mid-division, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
tracked leaders, jumped left at 1st, 7th 3 out, ridden in 4th before 2 out, no extra
Willie Mullins, who has won two of the last three of these, complicates matters with three entries. Queens Boulevard has a bit of improving to do but Vent D'Automne battled on strongly to land a heavy-ground Ballinrobe bumper in May and the more rain that falls the better. However, VOIX DES TIEP's second to The Big Dog on this track looks better form and, though that was over 2m4f, he should have enough pace for this. Winning bumper The Gunner Murphy takes a big drop in trip having finished a close second over 2m6f at Punchestown but he'll be better suited by the softer conditions and may get outpaced by one or two of these. La Tektor and Bay Ambition are others who will do better over further while Padraig Roche's new acquisition Castello Sforza may need this after a long absence, though should be winning soon.
Alcatraz (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Chased leaders early, 7th halfway, ridden and no impression 3 out, kept on one pace, 9th of 18, 30 3/4l behind Allez Dance (10-10) at Punchestown 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Feb.
Bizzario 66-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, 7th halfway, no extra after 2 out, 10th of 25, dist behind Advantage Point (11-12) at Naas 2m mdn gd in Feb.
Bronson In Blue (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Waited with, soon well off pace, slightly impeded approaching 5th, distant 10th at 6th, soon no danger, 11th of 16, dist behind Retribution (11-4) at Clonmel 2m 3f mdn gd in Feb.
Castello Sforza (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd at 4th, ridden in 2nd when bad mistake 2 out, soon dropped to 3rd, no impression in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 10, 5 1/2l behind Minella Beau (11-12) at Galway 2m mdn gd in Aug.
Good Ol Days (IRE) Milan gelding out of Blessingindisguise.
La Tektor (FR) 14-1 (12-0) Waited with, soon towards rear, improved into 4th into straight, soon no impression, 2nd and kept on without troubling easy winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 11l behind Cobbler's Way (11-11) at Limerick 2m sft in Dec.
Need For Gold (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Waited with, a little keen early, slight mistake 1st, 9th after 4th, no extra from 3 out, 10th of 15, dist behind Press Conference (11-4) at Limerick 2m mdn sft in Dec.
Papal Present (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Chased leaders early, mid-division when fell 6th, at Thurles 2m 7f mdn gd in Feb.
The Gunner Murphy (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, ridden before 2 out, under pressure in 4th before last, stayed on into 2nd run-in, not reach winner, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Gallant John Joe (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 6f mdn gd in Nov.
The Shunter (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) Held up in rear, some progress es, ridden in 5th 2f out, no impression, 5th of 14, 17 3/4l behind Latest Exhibition (12-0) at Naas 2m 3f Yielding in Jan.
Tomasbar (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) Mid-division on inner, weakened from 4 out, never a factor, 21st of 29, dist behind Moratorium (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f mdn Yielding in Jan.
Vent D'Automne (FR) 9-4 (12-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, dropped to 3rd on outer 4f out, soon pushed along, ridden in 3rd over 2f out, went 2nd under 1f out, disputed lead inside final furlong, stayed on well to lead close home, won at Ballinrobe 2m 1f hvy in May beating Castlebrook (12-0) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Voix Des Tiep (FR) 11-4 (11-12) Tracked leaders, jumped right 2nd, 3rd halfway, headway approaching straight, pushed along and switched left in 2nd after 2 out, ridden and no impression on winner run-in, 2nd of 17, 6l behind The Big Dog (11-10) at Gowran Park 2m 4f mdn sft in Jan.
Creasted Court (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Mid-division early, bumped slightly 4th, 9th at 6th, 6th approaching straight, soon one pace, 7th of 18, 29 1/4l behind Annie Odds (10-12) at Clonmel 2m 3f mdn Good - Yielding in Feb.
Merry At Heart (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Waited with, slightly impeded 2nd, last after next and not a factor, tailed off, 13th of 17, dist behind Rakhine State (11-12) at Clonmel 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Feb.
Peterstown (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden in 5th bypassing 2 out, no impression, 5th of 24, 12l behind Dream Conti (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f mdn Yielding in Jan.
Queens Boulevard 6-1 (11-5) Tracked leader in 2nd, took keen hold, ridden in 3rd 2 out, soon no impression on leaders, moderate 4th at last, no extra, 5th of 19, 20 1/2l behind Valdieu (11-12) at Naas 2m mdn gd in Jan.
Rosmarine 100-1 (11-5) Waited with, 13rd after 3rd, slight mistake 3 out, soon no danger, tailed off, 11th of 17, dist behind Rakhine State (11-12) at Clonmel 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Feb.
Well Set Up (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, disputed moderate 2nd after 4f, ridden in 3rd entering straight, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 26 1/4l behind Envoi Allen (11-8) at Navan 2m lst (1) Yielding in Dec.
Bay Ambition (IRE) 2-1 (11-11) Twrds rr of mid-div & ww, prog in 4th 5out, prog on inner downhill aftr 2out, rddn to ld bef last, kow flat, won at Aghabullogue 3m mdn hvy in Jan beating Megaboost (11-11) by 2l, 7 ran.
Hansom Lady (IRE) Fairly Ransom M out of Ballycurrane.
Dunbar (FR) 16-1 (12-0) Chased leaders and ran freely early, 7th halfway, under pressure in 6th 2f out, ridden and edged right over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 7th of 13, 14 3/4l behind Solindian (12-0) at Kilbeggan 2m 2f gd in Aug.
My First Symphony (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Twrds rr of mid-div, 5th when mstk 2nd, cl 4th frm 6out until wknd in 5th when mstk 3out, bhnd when pu aftr 2out, at Bandon 3m hvy in Mar.
