in rear, closer in 11th 2 out, soon pushed along, ridden in 10th at last, kept on run-in, 5th close home, never nearer
rear of mid-division early, mid-division at 5th, bumped 7th, not fluent 8th, 12th 2 out, soon ridden, 7th at last, no impression
mid-division on inner, closer in 6th 2 out, soon ridden and no impression
tracked leaders, 3rd 2 out, soon ridden, dropped to 9th at last, no impression
rear of mid-division, pushed along in 8th 2 out, soon ridden, went 5th at last, no extra
led early, took keen hold, headed 3rd,mistake 8th, pushed along in 4th 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, trailing when pulled up before last
towards rear, pushed along in 13th after 2 out, soon ridden and weakened
mid-division, not fluent 1st and 2nd, 9th 2 out, soon ridden, 6th when mistake at last and hampered, weakened run-in
mid-division, bumped at 1st, ridden after 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders on inner, 5th 2 out, headway into 2nd entering straight, ridden to lead at last, stayed on well run-in
towards rear, closer in 10th 2 out, soon ridden, went 6th before last, no impression
rear of mid-division, dropped to rear and ridden after 9th, weakened
tracked leader in 2nd early, led from 3rd, ridden and strongly pressed entering straight, headed at last, kept on same pace run-in
tracked leaders, not fluent 8th, went 2nd 2 out, soon ridden, 4th before last, kept on one pace
towards rear, 15th 2 out, soon pushed along, ridden in 11th at last, stayed on well on inner run-in, never nearer
always towards rear, pushed along 7th, weakened 9th, never a factor
mid-division on outer, 7th 2 out, soon pushed along, ridden in 3rd before last, kept on same pace run-in
NonRunner
Gordon Elliott has four entries including the hat-trick seeking MAXXUM, who went up 17lb for scoring at Navan and a further 18lb for landing a Pertemps qualifier over the track and trip in December. Cian Quirke has been booked to reduce the weight by 7lb and another big run is expected. The stable's Jungle Prose completed a handicap four-timer but couldn't handle Grade 2 company at Limerick, though she also has a 7lb claimer on board. Sam's Choice is another from the yard with a chance as he was going away at the finish when scoring over 2m4f here in December. Willie Mullins saddles two with Paul Townend on board Blue Sari, who was chasing last season but had a pipe-opener for this over timber at Clonmel last month. Perceval Legallois ran well for a long way in the selection's race here in December and has a big weight pull while Grozni has won three of his last five.
Gatsby Grey (FR) 22-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, bumped 6th, pushed along 3 out, not fluent next, 9th entering straight, no impression, kept on one pace, 7th of 19, 23 1/2l behind San Salvador (10-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Lucky Max (GER) 11-4fav (11-5) Mid-division on outer, headway travelling well entering straight, led 3 out, ridden after next, strongly pressed at last, headed and dropped to 4th inside final furlong, no extra, 4th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Hms Seahorse (11-0) at Navan 2m 4f hcp sft in Jan.
Maxxum (IRE) 11-4fav (10-5) Mid-division, progress in 7th after 3 out, 4th before 2 out, challenged travelling well entering straight, pushed along to lead before last, soon asserted, clear run-in, easily, won at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec beating Eric Bloodaxe (11-8) by 16l, 27 ran.
Jungle Prose (IRE) 5-1 (10-10) Towards rear, 4th after 6th, slight mistake 4 out, dropped to 5th and no impression 2 out, kept on one pace run-in to 4th close home, no threat, 4th of 5, 13 3/4l behind Favori De Champdou (11-3) at Limerick 2m 7f (1) Soft - Heavy in Dec.
The Very Man (IRE) 9-1 (8-11) Mid-division and 9th halfway, ridden from 3f out, no impression and weakened from over 1f out, 16th of 20, 25 1/4l behind Drop The Anchor (8-7) at Naas 2m hcp hvy in Nov.
Blue Sari (FR) 11-1 (11-12) Held up behind leaders in 3rd, ridden into 2nd before 2 out, no chance with winner, kept on same pace from before last, 2nd of 6, 15l behind Gaelic Warrior (11-9) at Clonmel 2m 1f hvy in Jan.
Freedom To Dream (FR) 18-1 (11-12) Tracked leader early, 3rd from 3rd, bad mistake 5th, soon dropped to rear, mistake next and behind, pulled up before 3 out, at Leopardstown 2m 5f sft in Dec.
Max Flamingo (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Prominent and keen early, not fluent 1st, soon mid-division, mistake 9th, towards rear when slightly hampered next, mistake 6 out, ridden and weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next, at Limerick 3m hcp sft in Oct.
A Great View (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, no extra 3 out, pulled up before last, at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Perceval Legallois (FR) 8-1 (10-11) Held up early, mid-division halfway, ridden into 6th 2 out, under pressure in 4th before last, kept on one pace, slight mistake last, 4th of 27, 25 1/2l behind Maxxum (10-5) at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
The Little Yank (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Always towards rear, never a factor, last of 13, 31 1/2l behind Hms Seahorse (11-0) at Navan 2m 4f hcp sft in Jan.
Sam's Choice (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Rear of mid-division, progress before 2 out, ridden into 5th entering straight, under pressure in 3rd before last, stayed on to challenge run-in, led last 100 yards, kept on well, won at Leopardstown 2m 4f hcp sft in Dec beating Gali Flight (11-4) by 2 3/4l, 19 ran.
Grozni (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Soon led, headed 3rd, led next, hard pressed last, stayed on, just holding 2nd close home, won at Leicester 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec beating Not A Light (11-0) by shd, 11 ran.
The Gradual Slope (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 3rd, bumped 4th, bumped again after 3 out, headway into 3rd and pushed along 2 out, ridden and disputed lead at last, stayed on well run-in, led at line, won at Down Royal 2m 1f sft in Jan beating Marelly (11-4) by ns, 9 ran.
Takarengo (IRE) 3-1 (10-13) Prominent, led or disputed lead after 3rd, headed after 4 out and pushed along next, 3rd and no impression approaching last, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Lucky Max (11-12) at Cork 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Belle Metal (IRE) 11-1 (10-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, not fluent 7th, disputed lead 4 out, led entering straight, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened, 11th of 13, 29 3/4l behind Hms Seahorse (11-0) at Navan 2m 4f hcp sft in Jan.
Hardy Bloke (FR) 33-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, hampered and unseated rider 4th, at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Au Fleuron (FR) 33-1 (11-3) Mid-division on inner, mistake 1st and slight mistake 3rd, pushed along and lost place 4 out, ridden and no impression after 2 out, stayed on to go 6th at last, kept on one pace, 4th of 19, 16 1/2l behind San Salvador (10-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
