chased leaders, 4th halfway, dropped off leaders 3 out, ridden into moderate 3rd before 2 out, left 2nd last, no chance with winner
led, joined and disputed from 4th, ridden and headed entering straight, pecked slightly 2 out, no extra in 2nd when fell last
always towards rear, ridden and weakened before 3 out, tailed off
always towards rear, ridden and no extra 4 out, weakened and completely tailed off
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and no impression before straight, 4th 2 out, soon no extra
soon mid-division, slight mistake 4th, ridden in 7th and slight mistake 3 out, soon no extra
settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no impression before straight, soon no extra
chased leader in 2nd, disputed from 4th, led entering straight, eased clear before last, not extended
mid-division best, 8th halfway, ridden and no impression 3 out, soon no extra
chased leaders early, 6th halfway, ridden and weakened before 3 out where slight mistake
always towards rear, mistake 4th, ridden and no impression after 4 out, weakened
held up towards rear, ridden into moderate 7th entering straight, left 4th last, kept on one pace
soon mid-division, progress into 6th after 4 out, ridden and no impression in 5th before straight, kept on one pace
chased leaders, mistake and unseated rider 2nd
Willie Mullins has won four of the last five of these and his newcomer Saldier won a couple of minor races on the Flat in France and has a Triumph Hurdle entry so must be rated highly. He's obviously one to keep an eye on though LES ARCEAUX hasn't done much wrong and offers a strong test of his credentials. Three times a winner on the Flat last summer, he's only been caught close home in both starts over timber and there's no reason why he shouldn't make further progress. Park Paddocks looks held on his run behind the selection at Naas but Strange Notions, who finished fourth and was staying on strongly, looks a much more potent threat as that was by far her best ever run.
Big Ego 16-1 (8-6) Soon led, headed over 4f out, weakened from over 2f out, 13th of 15, 33 1/4l behind Lost History (9-10) at Roscommon 1m 4f hcp hvy in Sep.
Galtymore (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, slightly hampered 2 out, soon no extra, last of 8, 21l behind Sayo (11-7) at Naas 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Guido Reni (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Always towards rear, never a factor, 20th of 24, dist behind Play The Game (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hvy in Jan.
Harlow 66-1 (10-10) Always towards rear, never a factor, 21st of 24, dist behind Play The Game (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hvy in Jan.
Les Arceaux (IRE) 10-3 (11-7) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to dispute before 2 out, slightly left 2 out and headed, disputed again before last, ridden from last, edged ahead run-in, headed close home, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Sayo (11-7) at Naas 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Make It Hurrah (IRE) 12-1 (9-8) Pushed along and ridden from stalls, always in rear, eased from 3f out, tailed off, last of 13, dist behind Lucky Mistake (9-0) at Gowran Park 1m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Sep.
Park Paddocks (IRE) 11-4 (11-7) Tracked leaders, headway into 2nd before 4 out, travelled well to dispute lead approaching 2 out where blundered, pushed along and no impression in 3rd before last, no extra, 3rd of 10, 15 3/4l behind Commentariolus (11-7) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Saldier (FR) (9-2) last of 5, 6 3/4l behind Recoletos (9-2) at Saint-Cloud 1m 2f Grp 2 stks hvy in May.
Still Alive 25-1 (11-0) Towards rear and 10th halfway, some progress into 6th from 3 out and soon pushed along, no extra from next, 7th of 13, dist behind Lady In Lavender (10-7) at Limerick 2m mdn hvy in Dec.
Viking Hoard (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Held up, jumped slightly left 1st, not fluent 2nd, last from 3rd, pushed along before straight, switched right after 3 out, soon no impression until ran on without threatening run-in, 7th of 14, at Cork 2m mdn hvy in Jan.
Young Dev (IRE) 5-2 (11-6) Rr of mid-div, 5th when fell 6th, at Belharbour 3m mdn Yielding - Soft in Feb.
Cristal Icon (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Led, clear after 3f, reduced advantage 2 1/2f out, ridden and headed under 2f out, soon no extra, 13th of 14, 18 1/4l behind Nimitz (10-0) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Jan.
Petite Gina (FR) 66-1 (10-5) Raced in 8th early, 5th from 6th, one pace from before 3 out, 10th of 21, dist behind Moyhenna (11-7) at Punchestown 2m mdn hvy in Jan.
Tildas Icon (IRE) 7-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders on inner, ran freely, 6th halfway, mistake 3 out, close up entering straight, pushed along and no extra after 2 out, 6th of 14, 24l behind Lackaneen Leader (11-7) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Strange Notions (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Held up and ran freely early, ridden into 7th 2 out, 5th and no impression on leaders before last, kept on same pace run-in, 4th of 8, 3 1/4l behind Sayo (11-7) at Naas 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Jan.
