led, headed after 4th, disputed again from halfway until headed before 5 out, soon ridden and dropped to 4th after 4 out, left moderate 3rd after next, kept on one pace
raced in 4th, went 3rd after 4 out, hung badly left after 3 out and dropped to poor 4th
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd after 5 out, headway to dispute before 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on under pressure but not match winner run-in
tracked leader in 2nd, led after 4th until joined halfway, led again before 5 out, strongly pressed and joined before 3 out, led again 2 out and kept on best run-in
A very disappointing turnout but it's time RUSSIAN WAR was getting back to winning ways and he can see off the challenge of the Willie Mullins pair. Gordon Elliott's charge was in tremendous form around this time a year ago but suffered in the weights as a consequence and has struggled, though he's been competing mainly at a high level. Sergent Guib's is presumably the pick of the champion trainer's pair but it's difficult to know what to make of him. He looked promising on his two opening runs for the stable at Punchestown but was a long way behind Russian War in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham and has since pulled up back at Punchestown. Raz De Maree was looking very promising at this time a year ago but has gone backwards in his two runs this year.
Raz De Maree (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Always rear, lost touch 4 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by The Bishop Looney (11-2) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl in Feb, 8 ran.
Russian War (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway when mistake 9th, 6th and outpaced approaching 2 out (usual 3 out), kept on same pace, never on terms, 5th of 10, 26l behind Cucumber Run (10-13) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-155 (2) gd in Apr.
Sergent Guib's (FR) 20-1 (11-7) Led and clear, reduced lead from 3rd, tended to jump a bit left, headed and no extra 3 out, mistake and no extra 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Drive Time (10-6) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl hvy in Apr, 18 ran.
Shakervilz (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Rear of mid-division, never a factor, kept on one pace, 7th of 24, well behind Uncle Junior (12-7) at Punchestown 4m 1f crs cntry chs (5yo+) hvy in Apr.
