led, ran freely, headed before 2out, soon no extra in rear, pulled up before last
always towards rear, pushed along 2 out, soon no extra, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, 4th straight, no impression before last, kept on
always prominent, not fluent 4th, disputed lead next, not fluent 3 out, headed before 2 out, ridden and led last, kept on well
towards rear, 6th halfway, went 5th straight, 5th and ridden when mistake last, kept on well
towards rear, 7th halfway, pushed along 3 out, 6th and no impression after last, kept on
mid-division, slow 3rd, 5th halfway, 4th 2 out, went 3rd straight, kept on well
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, headway to lead 2 out, headed last, no extra close home
Annexation won this a year ago and also scored twice at Dundalk over the winter. He's had a couple of recent runs on the Flat and his rider's claim is a plus. ALL THOSE YEARS won a bumper on good going and a heavy-ground maiden hurdle at Cork in January after a very long break. He can complete a double though Two Shoe Tom was well on top at the finish at Ballinrobe last month so a 6lb rise shouldn't prevent another big run. Dark Spark has been here twice and won them both. He arrives in winning form having scored on the Flat at Listowel and looks certain to go well as does Vado Forte, who returns to hurdling on a 17lb lower mark than over fences.
Annexation (FR) 8-1 (8-12) Towards rear, pushed along early straight and 13th on outer over 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, 8th of 19, 10 1/4l behind Mashhoor (9-1) at Curragh 1m 2f hcp Good - Yielding in May.
All Those Years 9-4fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, ran freely, 5th halfway, headway into 2nd after 3 out, not fluent next, pushed along to challenge and slight mistake last, ridden and kept on well run-in to lead close home, won at Cork 2m hvy in Jan beating De Lady In Red (11-6) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Vado Forte (FR) 6-1 (11-7) Raced in 4th, not fluent 1st and 6th, closer in 3rd from 3 out, ridden before next and weakened to 5th, soon no extra, 5th of 6, dist behind Envoi Allen (12-0) at Down Royal 2m 4f (1) sft in Oct.
Dark Spark (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Slowly away and in rear, rapid headway after 1f, led after 3f and 2 length lead halfway, raced wide and pressed entering straight, pushed along to assert over 1f out, kept on well, won at Listowel 1m 5f Yielding in Jun beating Barbados (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Bal De Rio (FR) 40-1 (11-11) Mid-division, ridden and no extra 3 out, weakened and tailed off, 11th of 14, dist behind Fame And Joy (11-5) at Tipperary 2m 4f hcp gd in May.
Mandarin Monarch (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Mid-division, ridden and behind from 5th, tailed off next, pulled up before last, at Aintree 2m hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Two Shoe Tom (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders disputing 5th. pushed along in 6th 3 out, ridden in moderate 6th 2 out, went moderate 3rd before last, improved into 2nd inside final furlong, led close home and went clear last strides, won at Ballinrobe 2m 2f hcp Yielding in May beating Ena Baie (11-6) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
Too Bright (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Soon tracked leader in 2nd, ridden entering straight, dropped to 4th before last, no extra, 4th of 10, 10 3/4l behind Tudor City (11-11) at Punchestown 2m hcp gd in May.
Hurricane Cliff (IRE) 40-1 (10-6) Mid-division, progress before 2nd, 6th before 5th, headway 4 out, dropped to 7th after 4 out, good headway to close approaching straight, no extra before last, 6th of 17, 5 1/2l behind Felix Desjy (11-4) at Punchestown 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
