towards rear, headway from 3 out, 4th when left 3rd 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, no extra in 6th when mistake at last
tracked leaders, close 4th 3 out, ridden before last, disputed 2nd when slight mistake and bumped at last, kept on under pressure inside final furlong
tracked leaders, under pressure in mid-division at 8th, jumped right 3 out, weakened
tracked leader in 2nd, ridden in close 2nd when left in front 2 out, headed approaching last, disputed 2nd when slight mistake and bumped at last, no extra in 4th after last
in rear, closer in 9th 3 out, soon no impression, weakened and pulled up before last
rear of mid-division, headway 4 out, 5th next, ridden and headway to lead approaching last, stayed on well under pressure inside final furlong
mid-division, closer 7th and left 6th 2 out, soon ridden, 4th at last, switched left and briefly short of room after last, kept on under pressure in 3rd inside final furlong
tracked leaders on outer, close 3rd and left 2nd 2 out, soon ridden, dropped to 5th at last, no extra inside final furlong
in rear, slight mistake at 2nd, headway on inner into 6th 4 out, ridden and no impression from next
tracked leaders on inner, slight mistake 4th, mid-division and mistake next, dropped to rear of mid-division and slight mistake 6th, soon no impression
rear of mid-division early, mid-division at 3rd, pulled up quickly before 8th
always towards rear, mistake 6th, no impression from 3 out, pulled up before last
mid-division on outer, bad mistake 3rd and dropped to rear, trailing and pulled up before 5th
led, slight mistake 1st, mistake 3rd, narrow lead when fell 2 out
mid-division, 8th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, never a factor
Quamino won this last year and is by no means out of this as he didn't get the run of the race in a similar event here over Christmas. Gordon Elliott has three entries with Eclair De Beaufeu making his handicap debut over fences having taken on some top novices since switching to the bigger obstacles. Stable companion Avenir D'Une Vie arrives in good form having just failed to concede 16lb to Charlie Stout at Fairyhouse and should get closer on these terms. Paloma Blue looks to have been aimed at the race and will appreciate better conditions after two runs in very heavy ground while Debuchet, a very good second at Ascot last month, is back over his best trip after disappointing at Cork. SNUGSBOROUGH HALL (NAP) was in superb form last spring and may have completed a four-timer but for being carried out at Fairyhouse. He's up 16lb for his easy victory at the Punchestown festival but a recent spin over hurdles will have him spot-on for this.
Duca De Thaix (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along and no impression before 3 out, soon no extra, weakened, 9th of 14, dist behind Charlie Stout (10-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Paloma Blue (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) Chased leaders in 3rd, not fluent 7th, stayed on same pace and no impression before 2 out, 3rd of 5, 16l behind Riders Onthe Storm (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (2) hvy in Dec.
Avenir D'Une Vie (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, 3rd 5 out, headway into 2nd 2 out, ridden approaching last, no impression on winner run-in, kept on one pace, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Charlie Stout (10-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Goulane Chosen (IRE) 28-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, slight mistake 4 out, pushed along 2 out and no impression in 3rd approaching last where slight mistake, no extra, 3rd of 14, 19l behind Charlie Stout (10-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Snugsborough Hall (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Rear of mid-division, 7th halfway, headway in 5th after 4 out, pushed along before 2 out and no impression approaching last, kept on one pace to go moderate 4th close home, 4th of 10, 15l behind Morosini (10-11) at Cork 2m 4f hcp sft in Jan.
Eclair De Beaufeu (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Raced in 2nd early, soon led and went on, reduced lead approaching 4 out, headed before 2 out where bad mistake, soon no extra, 3rd of 5, 25l behind Tornado Flyer (11-0) at Navan 2m 1f (1) sft in Dec.
Charlie Stout (IRE) 10-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, 4th 5 out, headway travelling well to lead entering straight, ridden after 2 out and 1 length lead last, kept on well run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp sft in Jan beating Avenir D'Une Vie (11-0) by 2l, 14 ran.
Or Jaune De Somoza (FR) 25-1 (11-9) Soon disputed lead, led from 3rd, some slight mistakes, joined approaching 2 out, soon headed and weakened, 9th of 16, 36l behind Drumconnor Lad (10-13) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Quamino (GER) 25-1 (10-11) Held up, rear of mid-division, progress and hampered 4 out, 10th 3 out, ridden in 8th 2 out, no impression before last, kept on one pace, 9th of 27, 19 1/2l behind Roaring Bull (10-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Debuchet (FR) 11-4fav (11-13) Prominent, mistake 6th, led or disputed lead from halfway, headed early straight, ridden and no impression on winner after 2 out, 3rd and no extra run-in, 3rd of 9, 15 1/4l behind Minella Till Dawn (10-10) at Cork 2m 4f hcp sft in Jan.
Rock The World (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Soon raced in 11th, closed approaching 2 out, soon one pace, 8th of 16, 29 1/2l behind Drumconnor Lad (10-13) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Allardyce 2-1jfav (10-10) Tracked leaders on inner, 3rd 3 out, ridden in 3rd 2 out, close 2nd at last, headway to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well close home, won at Naas 2m hcp Yielding in Jan beating Dasmyhoss (10-1) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Niccolai (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, disputed 3rd halfway, pushed along before 4 out, no extra in moderate 4th from 3 out, mistake last, 4th of 6, dist behind Halsafari (11-3) at Limerick 2m 2f hvy in Dec.
Batcio (FR) 11-2 (10-1) Soon raced in 4th, not fluent 8th, headway and effort straight, kept on without quite matching winner run-in, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Drumconnor Lad (10-13) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Grand Partner (IRE) 33-1 (11-9) Prominent on outer, slight mistake 6th, led 10th, headed next, remained prominent until pushed along and lost place approaching 2 out, soon no extra, 5th of 9, 27l behind At The Acorn (11-6) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f sft in Jan.
Ice Cold Soul (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along and headway to challenge 2 out, ridden to lead approaching last and asserted run-in, 2 lengths clear 100 yards out, held on close home, won at Thurles 2m 6f hcp Yielding in Jan beating Nobody Home (10-6) by nk, 11 ran.
