held up in rear, progress in 5th travelling well entering straight, ridden into 3rd and slight mistake last, left 2nd, kept on run-in without reaching winner
held up towards rear, progress into 5th at 8th, slight mistake 4 out, ridden and no extra entering straight, kept on one pace in 7th before last, left 6th
chased leaders, slight mistake 1st, 3rd halfway, lost place 8th, soon towards rear, ridden and no impression 3 out, weakened 2 out, completely tailed off
led, ridden and pressed entering straight, narrowly headed when fell last
held up behind leaders, 5th halfway, closer 2 out, ridden in 4th before last, left 3rd last, no impression and kept on same pace run-in
held up behind leaders, 6th halfway, improved into 3rd before 8th, ridden and no extra entering straight, 6th and kept on one pace before last, left 5th
soon tracked leaders, 4th halfway, 2nd after 7th, improved to challenge travelling well entering straight, narrow lead last and left 2-lengths clear, ridden and kept on well run-in
chased leader, 2nd halfway, dropped to 4th before 8th, ridden entering straight, no impression in 5th before last, left 4th, kept on one pace
Willie Mullins saddles half of this eight-runner field but the quartet may be upstaged by SNOW FALCON, who was the outsider when falling at the fourth in this last year. Noel Meade's charge has made fine progress since then and was still travelling well when falling three out in a Grade 2 won by Unowhatimeanharry at Newbury last month. Shaneshill was over four lengths behind the selection at Navan earlier and though Clondaw Warrior arrives in brilliant form he hasn't quite proved himself at this level. Vroum Vroum Mag may prove best of the champion trainer's quartet as she only just failed to hold off Apple's Jade over 2m4f at Fairyhouse and is just as effective at this trip as she showed in a Grade 2 at Ascot in January. Nicky Henderson throws a spanner into the works in the shape of Kotkikova, the winner of 11 of her 14 starts over hurdles and fences in France including at Grade 1 level. She would hardly be travelling here without her trainer being confident of a big run.
Clondaw Warrior (IRE) 5-6fav (11-10) Slight mistake 1st, chased leaders in 3rd, closed approaching straight, 2nd approaching 2 out, ridden briefly between last 2, soon challenged and led last, eased on to assert run-in, won at Clonmel 3m sft in Dec beating Val De Ferbet (11-0) by 5 1/2l, 7 ran.
De Plotting Shed (IRE) 2-1 (11-5) Led, pushed along and edged left after 2 out, soon ridden and 2 lengths clear last, headed run-in, no impression closing stages, 2nd of 7, 3 1/4l behind Snow Falcon (11-10) at Navan 2m 4f (1) Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Milsean (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 4th 4 out, ridden and no impression from next, 13th of 16, dist behind Jury Duty (10-4) at Navan 2m 7f hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Shaneshill (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, short of room approaching 2 out, ridden in 3rd and bad mistake last, no impression and kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 7 1/4l behind Apple's Jade (10-13) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Good - Yielding in Dec.
Snow Falcon (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) In rear, headway after 4 out, going well when close up and fell 3 out, at Newbury 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Kotkikova (FR) (10-10) won at Auteuil 2m 2f gd in Apr beating Tara River (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Vroum Vroum Mag (FR) 4-7fav (11-3) Held up on inner, 5th halfway, progress after 2 out and challenged last, ridden and every chance run-in, just failed, 2nd of 7, shd behind Apple's Jade (10-13) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Good - Yielding in Dec.
Whiteout (GER) 50-1 (11-3) Led, slight mistake 5th, pushed along and headed entering straight, soon no extra, weakened, last of 7, dist behind Apple's Jade (10-13) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Good - Yielding in Dec.
