close up, bumped at 1st, 3rd after 3rd, improved to 2nd at 10th, led before 3 out, pressed 2 out, joined last, headed and no extra closing stages
in touch, dropped to 5th after 3rd, not fluent at 5th, 4th halfway, progress to 3rd at 10th, closed 3 out where fell
rear, 6th after 3rd, mistake at 9th, improved to 4th 3 out, slightly hampered and left 3rd after 3 out, no impression on leaders 2 out, weakened run-in
tracked leader, jumped right and bumped rival at 1st, not fluent at 2nd and pecked, not fluent at 4th and 6th, closed at 9th, lost place at 10th, weakened before 3 out, left moderate 4th after 3 out
led, increased advantage after 2nd, reduced lead after 3rd, not fluent at 4th, headed and weakened quickly before 3 out, left moderate 5th after 3 out
rear, 7th after 3rd, good headway and closed in 3rd 3 out, challenged leader 2 out, disputed last, ran on well closing stages
towards rear, improved to 4th after 3rd, 5th halfway, mistake in 6th at 9th and fell
MONTAGNE D'ARGENT had Fan De Blues eight lengths behind on heavy ground here in March and is only 4lb worse off. He took a crashing fall in a Thurles Grade 3 next time and hasn't been seen since but hopefully will be fit enough. The runner-up has undoubtedly improved and landed a Galway Grade 3 in July while Ilikedwayurthinkin is progressing at a rate of knots over fences and doesn't look badly treated on a mark of 135. Stansfield's only victory to date came over the minimum trip on heavy ground.
Fan De Blues (FR) 7-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, 2nd at 7th, pushed along and no impression before 2 out, ridden and kept on one pace from before last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 12l behind Gin On Lime (11-3) at Tipperary 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Oct.
Rebel Gold (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Rear, 16th after 6th, headway after 3 out, no impression in 6th 2 out, weakened before last, 7th of 18, 17 1/2l behind Aldo The Apache (10-5) at Naas 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Nov.
Ilikedwayurthinkin (IRE) 5-6fav (11-10) Held up behind leaders, mainly 3rd, mistake 5 out, moderate 3rd and mistake 3 out, soon closed on leaders, slight mistake 2 out and ridden, left 2nd last, pressed leader entering straight, disputed inside final furlong, edged ahead closing stages, won at Galway 2m 7f sft in Oct beating Eleazar Des Neiges (11-3) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
Punitive (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th, 9th at 5th, slight mistake 4 out, mistake 3 out, one pace straight, 8th of 14, 28 1/2l behind Stormy Judge (11-0) at Naas 2m 4f hcp hvy in Jan.
Montagne D'Argent (IRE) 17-2 (11-4) In touch, progress before 2nd, closed after 4th, improved to lead 3 out, headed and pushed along after 2 out, weakened to 4th before last where fell, at Thurles 2m 2f (1) Yielding in Mar.
Bois De Clamart (FR) 5-1 (11-0) Prominent, 3rd halfway, headway to dispute lead briefly after 3 out, ridden and dropped to 6th early run-in, soon no extra, weakened, last of 8, 37 1/4l behind Theatre World (10-10) at Galway 2m 7f sft in Oct.
Stansfield (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, headway to lead after 3 out, ridden and headed at last, kept on under pressure in 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Stand Off (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m Good - Yielding in Nov.
