held up in touch in last, went 3rd at 8th, disputed 2nd from next, dropped to 3rd and ridden 3 out, moderate 3rd next, no impression, strongly pressed for 3rd close home
made all, pushed along and went clear 2 out, ridden at last, stayed on well run-in
tracked leaders in 3rd, not fluent at 3rd, dropped to last at 8th, ridden 5 out, went 2nd 3 out, no impression on winner next, stayed on well run-in, not reach winner
tracked leader in 2nd, disputed 2nd from 9th, ridden and dropped to last before 3 out, soon trailing and no impression, strongly pressed 3rd horse close home
Edwulf, last season's shock Irish Gold Cup winner, has competed exclusively at Grade 1 level subsequently without looking likely to produce a repeat. Anibale Fly has only had one run since his brilliant exploits last spring when third in the Gold Cup and fourth in the Grand National. He's in both races again so should be somewhere near his peak. MONALEE is also in the Gold Cup but more likely to go for the Ryanair. He couldn't peg back Kemboy in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown in December but that was no disgrace and he can take care of Killultagh Vic, who ran a cracking race over hurdles in the Galmoy last month when a close third to Presenting Percy.
Edwulf 25-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, ridden and no impression after 2 out, kept on one pace straight, 8th of 11, 16 3/4l behind Kemboy (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) gd in Dec.
Monalee (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Disputed early, chased leader from before 4th, 3rd halfway, 2nd 6 out, pressed leader next, disputed before 2 out, ridden in 2nd early straight, no impression on winner from last, kept on same pace, just held 2nd close home, 2nd of 11, 7 1/2l behind Kemboy (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) gd in Dec.
Anibale Fly (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Waited with, slightly impeded 2nd, moderate 5th after 4th, some headway straight, soon one pace, 6th of 8, 23 1/4l behind Castlegrace Paddy (11-4) at Cork 2m 1f (1) sft in Dec.
Killultagh Vic (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders and kept to outer, 4th halfway, headway to lead 3 out, pushed along and headed next, ridden approaching last where not fluent, under pressure and no impression run-in, kept on one pace, 3rd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Presenting Percy (11-8) at Gowran Park 3m (1) sft in Jan.
