mid-division on outer, headway to 3rd after 3 out, 3rd entering straight, ridden and no extra before last
tracked leaders, jumped right 1st, mid-division when fell 6th
rear of mid-division, headway before 4 out, 5th 2 out, ridden and no extra before last
mid-division on inner, mistake 8th, in touch in 7th when mistake 2 out, ridden and weakened before last
mid-division on outer, improved to 2nd at 2nd, jumped right 6th, mistake and reminders 8th, ridden and weakened 3 out
mid-division on inner, pushed along in 10th 2 out, ridden and headway after 2 out, stayed on to 3rd at last, soon 2nd and challenged, led final 150 yards, kept on well
prominent, tracked leaders after 2nd, in touch in 9th when mistake 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, kept on one pace to go 5th run-in
always towards rear, never a factor, not fluent 1st, pushed along 4th, ridden and no impression after 2 out, kept on one pace without threatening
mid-division, in touch in 8th 2 out, ridden and no extra before last where mistake, weakened
prominent, not fluent 1st, 3rd halfway, bad mistake and pecked 8th, soon lost place, ridden and weakened before 2 out
rear of mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, 11th 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to go 4th at last, no impression, kept on one pace
rear of mid-division, hampered and unseated rider 6th
prominent, soon tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, disputed 3 out, headed before next where not fluent, ridden in 2nd before last, 3rd early run-in, no impression final 150 yards, kept on same pace
towards rear, slow 2nd, fell 6th
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, slight mistake 3rd, mid-division when mistake 3 out, soon ridden and no extra
mid-division on outer, improved to lead at 2nd, mistakes 7th and 8th, joined 3 out, led again before next, headed entering straight, soon ridden and weakened quickly
mid-division, closer and tracked leaders halfway, 3rd when mistake 3 out, ridden after 2 out, no impression in 5th when mistake last, no extra
towards rear, fell 8th
towards rear, badly hampered 6th, mistake 9th, ridden and weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last
towards rear, not fluent 1st, pushed along in 13th 2 out, ridden and no impression before last, stayed on to go 6th early run-in, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, headway to 2nd 2 out, led entering straight, ridden when mistake last, soon strongly pressed, headed final 150 yards, no impression, kept on same pace
towards rear, not fluent 1st, slight mistake 4th, still towards rear when mistake and unseated rider 5 out
always towards rear, never a factor, bad mistake 3rd, ridden and no extra before 4 out
Birchdale was heavily backed when beating Foxy Jacks narrowly in this last year and though not in that kind of form will be just 2lb higher and neither he nor the runner-up should be dismissed. Glamorgan Duke, who won the race in 2020, has shown nothing subsequently but Real Steel won the Paddy Power at the Christmas fixture and can go well again from 5lb higher. Gavin Cromwell's horses are in top form and Malina Girl, one of three from the yard, has run in Grade 2 company the last twice while MASKADA was having only her third start for Henry De Bromhead when landing a tough handicap at Limerick and gets the vote. Indigo Breeze has yet to win over fences but looks to have been laid out for this after a fine run at Cheltenham in December while Now Where Or When looks on a nice mark despite going up 7lb for his Down Royal victory. Top Ville Ben travels over from Yorkshire but looks to have plenty to do.
Ciel De Neige (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division, no impression after 4 out, pushed along after 2 out and no extra early straight, weakened, 16th of 28, dist behind Real Steel (10-8) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Dec.
Vanillier (FR) 50-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, 5th halfway, pushed along in rear and no impression before 3 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out, last of 6, dist behind Galopin Des Champs (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
Ballyshannon Rose (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Led and disputed, jumped slightly right 1st and 3rd, led before 4th, slight mistake 9th, slightly slow 5 out, joined 2 out, soon ridden and headed, no extra in 3rd before last, weakened, 3rd of 5, dist behind Scarlet And Dove (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f (1) sft in Jan.
Maskada (FR) 5-1 (10-13) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, took closer order before 3 out and went 2nd before next, pushed along to lead before last where jumped slightly left, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Limerick 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec beating Rebel Gold (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 13 ran.
Foxy Jacks (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Towards rear, took keen hold, mistake 2nd, not fluent 11th, fell 15th, at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
The Goffer (IRE) 10-3 (11-4) Chased leaders, pushed along after 12th, outpaced 3 out (normal 4 out), well held 3rd last (normal 2 out), 3rd of 4, 31l behind Galia Des Liteaux (11-2) at Warwick 3m (1) hvy in Jan.
West Cork Wildway (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Led early, headed after 1st, 2nd halfway, pushed along and lost position before straight, soon no impression, 9th of 12, 26 1/4l behind Clifton Warrior (11-7) at Clonmel 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Real Steel (FR) 33-1 (10-8) Towards rear, some headway in 13th after 4 out, closer 2 out, pushed along and progress entering straight, went 2nd on outer before last, ridden and led run-in, under pressure and just held on, won at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Dec beating Diol Ker (11-8) by shd, 28 ran.
Take All (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Towards rear, some headway after 3 out, pushed along entering straight and progress into 7th before last, ridden and kept on one pace, no impression closing stages, 9th of 28, 6 1/4l behind Real Steel (10-8) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Dec.
Farceur Du Large (FR) 22-1 (10-13) Mid-division, 9th after 4 out, some headway on outer when slight mistake 2 out, soon pushed along and no impression before last, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 8th of 28, 5 3/4l behind Real Steel (10-8) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Dec.
Birchdale (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Waited with, 10th halfway, some headway and slight mistake 3 out, soon one pace, 7th of 13, 14 1/4l behind Rock Road (10-9) at Killarney 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Aug.
Ilikedwayurthinkin (IRE) 50-1 (11-9) Always towards rear, weakened 3 out, pulled up before last, at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Top Ville Ben (IRE) 18-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, pushed along 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 11, dist behind Into Overdrive (10-11) at Wetherby 3m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Egality Mans (FR) 28-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 4th entering straight, no extra before 3 out where mistake, soon pulled up after, at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Indigo Breeze (FR) 5-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 3rd, every chance last, found no extra and held run-in, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind The Real Whacker (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m (2) gd in Nov.
Falco Blitz (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Led, headed after 2nd, disputed lead before 5th, soon regained outright lead, not fluent 5 out, headed and dropped to 5th before 2 out where hampered, soon no extra in 4th, 4th of 13, 25 1/2l behind Maskada (10-13) at Limerick 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec.
Mars Harper 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, pushed along in 3rd when bad mistake 4 out, moderate 4th next, no impression on leaders, moderate 4th when slight mistake at last, 4th of 8, dist behind Journey With Me (11-12) at Naas 2m 4f Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Rambranlt'jac (FR) 25-1 (10-6) Rear of mid-division, jumped left and mistake at 1st, headway into 6th 4 out, ridden 3 out, no impression, 6th of 18, 21 1/2l behind The Big Dog (11-10) at Navan 3m hcp sft in Nov.
Malina Girl (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, slight mistake 4 out, slight mistake next and soon no extra, ridden in 3rd entering straight, weakened before last, 3rd of 6, dist behind Allegorie De Vassy (11-3) at Thurles 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Jan.
Now Where Or When (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Disputed lead early, mistake at 1st, led from 2nd and made rest, mistake 4th, ridden 3 out, strongly pressed next, stayed on well under pressure run-in, all out close home, won at Down Royal 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov beating The Greek (11-2) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Glamorgan Duke (IRE) 125-1 (11-2) Tracked leader in 2nd, dropped to 3rd from 4th, slight mistake 6th, ridden and dropped to last after 4 out, no impression in last when left moderate 4th and badly hampered 3 out, left 3rd 2 out, no impression on leaders, 3rd of 6, dist behind Path D'oroux (11-11) at Navan 2m sft in Jan.
R'evelyn Pleasure (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Disputed briefly, soon tracked leaders, 4th halfway, improved to lead narrowly 6 out, headed 2 out and ridden, no extra in 3rd before last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 31l behind Stumptown (10-9) at Thurles 2m 6f hcp Yielding in Jan.
Charlie Stout (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, closer in 3rd after 4 out, ridden after 2 out, under pressure in 2nd before last, slight mistake last, no extra and kept on one pace, 2nd of 10, 12l behind Stumptown (10-9) at Thurles 2m 6f hcp Yielding in Jan.
