in touch, 2nd after 3rd, 3rd after 7th, improved to 2nd before 4 out, challenged leader 2 out, soon ridden, ran on run-in to lead close home
led, pressed 2 out, slight mistake at last, soon ridden, kept on, headed close home
tracked leader, 3rd after 3rd, 4th after 4th, slight mistake at 8th, mistake at 9th and dropped to rear, detached 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, 5th after 7th, headway before 4 out, 3rd 3 out, slight mistake 2 out, soon ridden, bad mistake at last, kept on one pace
rear of mid-division, dropped to 7th after 7th, progress before 4 out, not fluent in 5th 3 out, weakened after 2 out
towards rear, headway after 4th, 2nd after 7th, dropped to 4th before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, no impression before last where not fluent, kept on same pace
rear, mistake at 1st, slightly detached after 3rd, closed up on field at 7th, 6th after 7th, progress before 4 out, under pressure before 3 out, weakened 2 out, pulled up before last
Several of these ran at Punchestown, including Peregrine Run who was much more like his old self when fourth over hurdles. Peter Fahey’s course specialist won this in 2019 but is probably worth opposing this time. He was beaten a distance behind EASY GAME at Gowran in October and Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old won another Grade 2 at Fairyhouse last month before struggling over 3m in the Punchestown Gold Cup. Mullins also runs the enigmatic Cilaos Emery, Robin Des Foret and Unexcepted while Samcro is on a recovery mission after pulling up in Grade 1 races at Leopardstown and Cheltenham the last twice. Daly Tiger, however, usually struggles outside of handicaps.
Samcro (IRE) 15-2 (11-10) Chased leaders on outside, lost place after 2nd, pushed along and struggling after 6th, mistake 7th, went right next, soon behind, pulled up before 10th, at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gs in Mar.
Cilaos Emery (FR) 16-1 (12-0) Ran 5th, mistake 4th and slight mistake next, pushed along before 4 out, 4th and no impression when slight mistake 2 out, no extra, 4th of 6, 28 3/4l behind Chacun Pour Soi (12-0) at Punchestown 2m (1) Yielding in Apr.
Easy Game (FR) 28-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, mistake 9th, moderate 5th before 7 out, ridden and no extra before 4 out, weakened, 5th of 6, dist behind Clan Des Obeaux (11-12) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding in Apr.
Peregrine Run (IRE) 150-1 (11-6) Close up early, soon mid-division, effort to chase leaders straight, kept on same pace without threatening from before last, 4th of 24, 4 3/4l behind Koshari (11-9) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in May.
Robin Des Foret (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, mistake 3rd (chair), lost place 5th, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 7th, pulled up before 10th (bechers), at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Foxy Jacks (IRE) 25-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, led before 4th, mistake 5 out, ridden and joined 2 out, narrowly headed briefly before last, rallied and narrow lead last, kept on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Apr beating Pont Aven (10-7) by 1 3/4l, 24 ran.
Unexcepted (FR) 9-1 (11-9) Mid-division early, closed up 3 out, soon prominent and travelling smoothly on outer, no impression from after 2 out, no extra and not fluent last, 8th of 19, 13 1/2l behind Sully D'Oc Aa (10-12) at Punchestown 2m hcp Yielding in Apr.
Daly Tiger (FR) 3-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, 4th halfway, pushed along approaching 3 out, ridden and no impression when jumped left 2 out, no extra and jumped left again last, last of 5, 31 1/4l behind Any Second Now (11-10) at Navan 2m (1) hvy in Mar.
