held up in touch in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway on outer approaching straight, 3rd entering straight, pushed along when bumped rival over 1f out, soon ridden in 2nd and no impression, kept on same pace
led, jumped right, not fluent 3rd, mistake 5th, pushed along after 2 out (usual 3 out), headed entering straight, ridden and no impression in 2nd when edged right and bumped rival over 1f out, soon 3rd, kept on one pace
tracked leader in 2nd, led travelling well entering straight, pushed out and kept on well, easily
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along and dropped to 4th entering straight, no impression when briefly short of room over 1f out, kept on one pace
NonRunner
Bob Olinger (IRE) 6-4fav (11-6) Held up in last, headway 2 out, not clear run against stands side rail before last, soon bumped through, led last, edged left and quickened away flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) hvy in Jan beating Marie's Rock (10-13) by 7l, 4 ran.
Impaire Et Passe (FR) 7-4 (11-12) Raced disputing 3rd, close 3rd and mistake 2 out, short of room briefly entering straight, ridden in 2nd before last, kept on without threatening winner in 2nd run-in, 2nd of 4, 3 1/4l behind State Man (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Dec.
State Man (FR) 4-7fav (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, led travelling well 2 out, pushed along before last, clear and ran on well under hands and heels run-in, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Dec beating Impaire Et Passe (11-12) by 3 1/4l, 4 ran.
Echoes In Rain (FR) 18-1 (11-5) Raced disputing 3rd, dropped to last briefly 2 out, headway into 2nd and pushed along entering straight, 3rd and ridden before last, no extra in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 4, 11 1/4l behind State Man (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Fils D'oudairies (FR) 28-1 (11-12) Led and clear, jumped right, mistake 2nd, jumped right and headed 2 out, ridden and dropped to last entering straight, weakened, last of 4, 22 1/4l behind State Man (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Dec.