soon disputed lead, slight mistake 4th, hit 9th, soon headed, losing place when mistake 11th, pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, pushed along briefly 8th, impeded 9th, no impression before straight
towards rear, not fluent 3rd, some headway but no extra straight
soon prominent, 2nd when slight mistake 11th, bumped 4 out, lost place 2 out and no extra
held up, soon towards rear, mistake 8th, headway and kept on same pace straight
soon mid-division, slightly impeded 10th, progress to chase leader from 2 out, challenged straight, on terms last, led and asserted run-in, stayed on well
soon chased leaders, slight mistake 8th, prominent when slow jump 2 out, one pace straight
soon mid-division, no impression before 4 out, soon no extra
soon mid-division, no impression before straight, soon no extra
towards rear, slightly impeded 10th, some headway and kept on same pace from before straight
soon mid-division, bad mistake 9th, pushed along to chase leaders and kept on straight
soon chased leaders, slight mistake 8th, mistake 11th, impeded next, no extra and pulled up before last
tracked leaders, pecked slightly 7th, mistake unseated rider 12th
soon disputed lead, led from 9th, joined 4 out, led again and attempted to assert from 2 out, headed last, no extra and one pace
held up, soon towards rear, fell 9th
tracked leaders, on terms 4 out, headed 2 out, no extra straight
mid-division, slight mistake 6th, fell 10th
tracked leaders, jumped slightly right and bumped rival 4 out, no extra and one pace straight
held up, soon towards rear, slightly impeded 9th and 10th, no impression before 4 out
soon mid-division, bad mistake 3rd, no impression when not fluent last
soon mid-division, pushed along briefly from 2nd, hampered 10th, no extra from before straight
held up, soon towards rear, not fluent 2nd, pulled up before 3 out
held up, soon mid-division, not fluent 4th, badly hampered 10th, progress to chase leader from 2 out, on terms last, headed and kept on same pace run-in
tracked leaders, lost place and bad mistake 3 out, no extra from before straight
soon towards rear, progress to chase leaders from 2 out, went 5th straight, chased winner and kept on without threatening closing stages
soon mid-division, hampered 10th, closed up 2 out, challenged and every chance straight, dropped to dispute 3rd between horses when bad mistake last, no extra
soon chased leaders, kept on same pace under pressure straight
soon prominent, slightly slow 5th, on terms from 7th, wandered slightly before 9th, soon headed, no extra from before straight, fell last
Both Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins have numerous chances this lucrative handicap. The former may be best served by UCELLO CONTI (NAP), runner-up in this last year under Jacques Ricou. He looks to have been trained to the minute to go one better having run very well in the Becher earlier this month and looks the one to be on. Noble Endeavor, who ran very well when a close fourth in the Troytown at Navan last month, is another to consider from the Elliott battalions. Tennis Cap could prove the pick of the Mullins' entries though Rolly Baby had a cracking first season over fences and could easily be very well handicapped. Mouse Morris is also very well represented and though Folsom Blue's form figures look uninspiring he ran a tremendous race in this last year when a close third. His stable companion Thunder And Roses, the Irish National winner, looked on the way back to form at Fairyhouse three weeks ago and should go well while Venetia Williams wouldn't be running the cracking stayer Otago Trail here with top weight unless confident of a big effort. Rogue Trader hasn't had too much racing and showed progressive form at Punchestown last month and along with the in-form Peoples Park can make his presence felt.
Otago Trail (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 6 out, ridden before 2 out, led before last, kept on well, driven out, won at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov beating Bristol De Mai (11-11) by 3 1/4l, 9 ran.
Cause Of Causes (USA) 33-1 (11-10) Always behind, trailing 6th, pulled up before 5 out, at Navan 3m hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Gallant Oscar (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Towards rear, some progress into 7th 2 out, 6th at last, stayed on well without threatening run-in, 4th of 12, 1 3/4l behind Emcon (10-9) at Cork 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Tennis Cap (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Soon behind in rear, no impression 10th, never a factor, 4th of 5, 28 1/2l behind Zabana (11-5) at Gowran Park 2m 4f Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Ucello Conti (FR) 11-1 (11-1) Mid-division, not fluent 9th, mistake 17th, tracking leaders before 2 out, not fluent last, disputing 4th from elbow, unable to challenge, stayed on, 4th of 22, 2 1/2l behind Vieux Lion Rouge (10-9) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Noble Endeavor (IRE) 7-2fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, 7th 5 out, headway into 2nd 3 out, soon ridden, 3rd next, kept on same pace, 4th of 25, 5 3/4l behind Empire Of Dirt (11-8) at Navan 3m hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Rogue Angel (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 8th, not fluent 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 10th of 22, dist behind Vieux Lion Rouge (10-9) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Thunder And Roses (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, 2nd before 15th, pushed along approaching 2 out, ridden before last and no impression on winner run-in, 2nd of 12, 4 1/4l behind Forever Gold (10-7) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Colms Dream (IRE) 6-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear early, progress into 7th at 8th, close 4th 3 out, ridden to challenge in 3rd 2 out, under pressure and no impression before last, kept on into 2nd run-in, no impression on winner, 2nd of 17, 3 3/4l behind Irish Cavalier (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Bless The Wings (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up, mistake 7th, headway on inside to take 2nd after 27th, 3rd before 3 out, went 2nd again 100 yards from finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 9l behind Cantlow (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gf in Dec.
Rogue Trader (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Rear of mid-division, progress into 6th 5 out, close up next, disputed before 2 out, led after 2 out, joined again last, ridden and kept on best run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 6f hcp sft in Nov beating Art Of Payroll (11-10) by 2 1/4l, 13 ran.
Sambremont (FR) 8-1 (10-11) Rear of mid-division, bad mistake 5 out, brought down next, at Navan 3m hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Shadow Catcher 33-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, 4th on inner when mistake 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 14th of 25, dist behind Empire Of Dirt (11-8) at Navan 3m hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Stellar Notion (IRE) 13-2 (10-3) Soon tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd before 3rd, 2nd at 7th, 3rd before 10th, 4th 3 out, ridden into 3rd before 2 out, no impression on leader, progress to 2nd at last, kept on, not trouble winner, 2nd of 15, 7l behind Tiger Roll (10-6) at Limerick 3m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Killer Miller (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Mid-division, 12th 5 out, ridden in 7th 3 out, no impression from next, 9th of 25, 28l behind Empire Of Dirt (11-8) at Navan 3m hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Rolly Baby (FR) 2-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, challenged 3 out, led before 2 out, kept on strongly, won at Perth 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Uhlan Bute (10-4) by 8l, 4 ran.
Venitien De Mai (FR) 20-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 4th, 9th 5 out, ridden 3 out, moderate 8th next, kept on without threatening, 5th of 25, 14 1/4l behind Empire Of Dirt (11-8) at Navan 3m hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Dromnea (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Led, ridden and headed entering straight, under pressure in 3rd 2 out, no extra in 4th before last, left 3rd, kept on one pace, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 7, 10 1/2l behind Alelchi Inois (11-5) at Clonmel 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Nov.
Captain Von Trappe (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, progress to dispute 11th and led after next, slight mistake 4 out, mistake 2 out and soon headed, no extra before last, weakened, 5th of 12, 31l behind Forever Gold (10-7) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Peoples Park (IRE) 7-2fav (10-3) Held up in touch, 7th after 1st, progress 5th, chased clear leader from 7th, hit 4 out, still travelling smoothly straight, led and pushed along to lead after 2 out, flicked tail and asserted run-in, stayed on well, won at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Dec beating Caolaneoin (10-1) by 6 1/2l, 11 ran.
Folsom Blue (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Mid-division and mistake 1st, soon rear of mid-division, no impression from 4 out, never a factor, 16th of 25, dist behind Empire Of Dirt (11-8) at Navan 3m hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
It Came To Pass (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up in last, pushed along 4 out, soon no impression and trailing, last of 4, 27l behind Attribution (11-0) at Navan 2m 1f (1) Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Oscar Knight (IRE) 7-1 (9-10) Rear of mid-division, slight mistake 7th, good headway from 3 out, led next, soon ridden clear, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Navan 2m 4f hcp Yielding - Soft in Dec beating Ball D'arc (10-6) by 6 1/2l, 15 ran.
Kilford (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, ridden 4 out, last and bad mistake 2 out, no impression, 5th of 6, dist behind Draycott Place (11-3) at Sligo 2m 1f hcp hvy in Sep.
The Crafty Butcher (IRE) 6-1 (10-3) In rear, pushed along before 2 out, progress into moderate 7th and ridden at last, stayed on well run-in, went 3rd inside final furlong, never nearer, 3rd of 16, 3 1/4l behind Jury Duty (10-4) at Navan 2m 7f hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Sonny B (IRE) 7-2jfav (11-6) Soon tracked leaders, slightly slow 2nd, some slight mistakes, 3rd from 9th, challenged 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Kansas City Chief (11-3) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp Yielding - Soft in Dec.
As De Pique (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Towards rear, mistakes 7th and 10th, no impression and slight mistake 4 out, some progress into 5th 2 out, went 3rd before last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 12, 7 3/4l behind Forever Gold (10-7) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
New Kid In Town (IRE) 4-1fav (10-3) Led and disputed, ridden and strongly pressed before 3 out, headed 3 out, no extra in 5th 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 16, 29 3/4l behind Raz De Maree (10-11) at Cork 3m 4f hcp gd in Nov.
Bonny Kate (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, led or disputed lead from 6th, led 4 out, ridden and strongly pressed after next, headed before last, no impression in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 25, 5 1/4l behind Empire Of Dirt (11-8) at Navan 3m hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Futuramic (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, progress to lead before 3 out, pushed along after 2 out, ridden and strongly pressed run-in, headed close home, 2nd of 16, nk behind The Jazz Singer (11-0) at Navan 2m 7f hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
On The Shannon (IRE) 11-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, 6th after 1st, slightly slow 6th, closed and mistake 4 out, slight mistake next, dropped to 9th approaching straight and no extra, 8th of 11, 35l behind Peoples Park (10-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Dec.
