mid-division early, badly hampered 7th, soon raced in 7th,
led, joined approaching 5th, soon headed, prominent, slight mistake 12th, led again 5 out, attempted to assert from 2 out, strongly pressed and jumped left last, soon headed and kept on without matching winner
badly hampered 7th and dropped to last, pushed along and detached 10th, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, 3rd after 7th, slight mistake 10th, not fluent 4 out, mistake 3 out and weakened, eased from before straight and pulled up before last
soon towards rear, 10th after 7th, detached 12th, no impression 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
jumped big 6th, slightly impeded 7th, soon raced in 9th, effort on outer into straight, no impression in 4th and kept on same pace from before last
tracked leaders, 4th after 7th, slightly slow 11th, challenged from before last where slight mistake, switched right run-in
held up towards rear, 6th after 7th, progress and not much room briefly after 3 out, ridden to challenge from before last where slight mistake, soon led, pressed and stayed on well run-in
5th after 7th, slight mistake 12th, no extra and not fluent last
held up towards rear, slightly impeded 7th, soon raced in 8th, not fluent 4 out,
held up early, soon tracked leaders and on terms approaching 5th, soon led, jumped big 6th, mistake 5 out and headed, lost place from before straight,
prominent, inclined to jump slightly right, slightly slow 5th, fell 7th
A brilliant renewal of this great race with SIZING JOHN given the nod to continue his winning streak. The Gold Cup winner returned to action with a superb display in the John Durkan at Punchestown where he led three out over that 2m4f and outstayed today's rival Djakadam with Carlingford Lough well beaten. He should have few problems with the runner-up again while Gold Cup runner-up Minella Rocco hasn't regained his form. Yorkhill could be a threat on his first start over this trip as the JLT winner should be ideally suited by stepping up. But he was surprisingly beaten by Road To Respect in the Ryanair at Fairyhouse in April and the winner was just touched off by Outlander, last year's winner of this, in the JNwine at Down Royal.
Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) 5-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th until slow 13th, stayed handy, ridden before 3 out, 4th and weakening next, last of 4, 20l behind Definitly Red (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) hvy in Dec.
Balko Des Flos (FR) 11-10fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, mistake 8th and slight mistake next, 3rd 3 out, pushed along before next and no impression when mistake last, no extra, 3rd of 6, 15 1/2l behind Alpha Des Obeaux (11-4) at Clonmel 2m 5f (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Carlingford Lough (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, mainly 5th, ridden and no impression 4 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 6, 19 1/4l behind Sizing John (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec.
Djakadam (FR) 5-4fav (11-10) Chased leader, led before 4th, pressed briefly 6 out, slight mistake and joined 3 out, soon headed and ridden, kept on same pace under pressure in 2nd from before last, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Sizing John (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec.
Edwulf 5-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, went close 2nd when pecked 2 out, about 5 lengths off winner and looked beaten when awkward last, soon went wrong, lost 2nd and pulled up, at Cheltenham 4m (1) gs in Mar.
Minella Rocco (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Mid-division, mistake and lost place 10th, behind when blundered 18th, pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Outlander (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Mostly tracked winner, not fluent and lost place 5 out, no chance with clear leaders before next, plugged on to take remote 3rd near finish, 3rd of 6, dist behind Bristol De Mai (11-7) at Haydock 3m 2f (1) hvy in Nov.
Road To Respect (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, slight mistake 10th, headway 3 out, disputed lead and jumped left next, ridden and headed run-in, no impression on winner close home, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Outlander (11-10) at Down Royal 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Sizing John 2-1 (11-10) Chased leaders in 3rd, mistake 2nd, disputed 2nd from 5th, jumped up to challenge briefly 6 out, jumped up to dispute 3 out, soon led travelling best, shaken up to assert before last, pushed out run-in and kept on strongly, comfortably, won at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec beating Djakadam (11-10) by 7l, 6 ran.
Valseur Lido (FR) 3-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, progress into 8th 4 out, improved into 4th entering straight, ridden to challenge before last, disputed last, no extra and headed run-in, 4th and kept on same pace closing stages, 4th of 13, 6 3/4l behind Outlander (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Yorkhill (IRE) 4-7fav (11-10) Held up early, ran freely, jumped left throughout, led after 4th, badly left at 5th and 6 out, slight mistake 3 out, soon disputed, led before 2 out, ran around approaching last and jumped awkwardly, soon ridden and headed, rallied and just held at line, 2nd of 6, nk behind Road To Respect (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Zabana (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Prominent, tracked leader and disputed lead 10th, led 5 out, pushed along and headed after 3 out, ridden and no impression in 3rd after 2 out, no extra, 3rd of 8, 14 1/2l behind Outlander (11-10) at Down Royal 3m (1) sft in Nov.
