held up in 5th, closer in 4th 2 out, soon ridden and no impression
tracked leaders in 4th, not fluent at 2nd, slight mistake 5th and again next, pushed along in 5th before 2 out, 4th on outer at last, kept on without threatening winner to go 2nd close home
held up in rear, not fluent at 3rd, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
always towards rear, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
made all and jumped well, travelling well entering straight, good jump at last and reminder after last, stayed on strongly under hands and heels, comfortably
tracked leaders in 3rd, improved to dispute 2nd after 2 out, short of room on inner entering straight, ridden in 2nd at last, no extra in 4th inside final furlong
tracked leader in 2nd, not fluent at 1st, ridden and disputed 2nd after 2 out, 3rd at last, regained 2nd and no impression on winner inside final furlong, dropped to 3rd close home
Joseph O'Brien has three entries with Sir Erec probably the best of them after a battling victory over TIGER TAP TAP here in December. The winner was very smart on the Flat and is an obvious Triumph Hurdle hope as is the runner-up, who had nowhere near his experience on the level and should have more scope. Gardens of Babylon also represents O'Brien and he and Surin are very closely matched on the battles they have had at Punchestown and Fairyhouse with the former just having the better of the weights here. Coeur Sublime is improving rapidly and looks a danger to all. Beaten a short-head in a Fairyhouse Grade 3, he may have won a Grade 2 here on St Stephen's Day but for a last-flight fall and holds stable companion Chief Justice on that run.
Chief Justice 4-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, slight mistake 1st, closed from before 2 out, hampered last, kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 11, 3 1/4l behind Rocky Blue (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Dec.
Gardens of Babylon (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, 5th halfway, good headway early straight and challenged approaching last, ridden and narrowly led run-in, headed on line, 2nd of 6, shd behind Surin (10-2) at Fairyhouse 2m gd in Jan.
Got Trumped 4-1 (11-0) Towards rear, headway after 3 out and pushed along in 2nd before next, ridden and no impression in 3rd before last where slight mistake, no extra run-in, 4th of 6, 12 1/2l behind Surin (10-2) at Fairyhouse 2m gd in Jan.
Parisian (IRE) 15-8 (11-0) Chased leader, led 1st, headed 3rd, 2nd halfway, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no extra in 4th before last, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 13l behind Chief Justice (11-0) at Listowel 2m Grp 3 gd in Sep.
Sir Erec (IRE) 11-10fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, 5th after 3rd, slightly slow 4th, jumped left 5th, effort and slight mistake 2 out, on terms before last, soon gained narrow lead and stayed on well, won at Leopardstown 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Dec beating Tiger Tap Tap (11-0) by nk, 28 ran.
Tiger Tap Tap (GER) 5-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, 8th after 3rd, 7th before halfway, effort straight and on terms before last where slight mistake, soon narrowly headed and kept on well run-in without quite matching winner, 2nd of 28, nk behind Sir Erec (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Dec.
Surin (FR) 10-3 (10-2) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, headway to lead approaching straight, slow 2 out and soon ridden, strongly pressed before last and narrowly headed run-in, kept on under pressure to lead again on line, won at Fairyhouse 2m gd in Jan beating Gardens of Babylon (11-0) by ns, 6 ran.
Coeur Sublime (IRE) 3-1jfav (10-12) Soon chased leaders, slight mistake 3rd, switched right early straight, on terms with every chance when fell last, at Leopardstown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Dec.
Filon D'Oudairies (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Held up, pulled hard, jumped left 1st, 9th approaching halfway, some headway and effort straight, no impression when impeded last, kept on same pace, 5th of 11, 14 3/4l behind Rocky Blue (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Dec.
Morning Skye (IRE) 7-2fav (9-9) Chased leader, led over 1f out, held on near finish, won at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (5) gd in Oct beating Icario (9-8) by nk, 15 ran.
Lamarckise (FR) (10-5) 3rd of 10, 4 1/4l behind Shahina Du Berlais (10-5) at Auteuil 1m 7f sft in Apr.
