raced in 3rd, pushed along before 7th, ridden and lost place before 3 out, soon weakened and eased, pulled up before 2 out
led, joined 7th, led again travelling well before 2 out, pushed along to assert before last, ridden and kept on well run-in
raced in 2nd, on terms 7th, not fluent next, pushed along and headed before 2 out, ridden and no impression before last, kept on one pace, lost 2nd final strides
raced in 4th, 3rd 3 out, ridden and no impression in moderate 3rd before next, kept on one pace from before last, went 2nd final strides
held up in rear, pushed along in moderate 4th before 2 out, ridden and no impression when mistake last, no extra
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS scored at Auteuil in May and though unable to hold off Sea Ducor at Gowran the winner finished second in a tough handicap at Leopardstown on Sunday. The hugely expensive Grand Roi won three times for Nicky Henderson and made a very promising debut for new connections in a Galway Grade 3 in October so looks the main threat. Gua Du Large was left clear at the last at Thurles for an emphatic victory and has plenty more to offer while Indiana Jones found Grade 2 company beyond him at Naas and will be better back at this level. Wolf Prince ran a superb race to finish runner-up in that latter event and would be thereabouts in that kind of form.
Galopin Des Champs (FR) 10-11fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, a little keen, went 2nd after 4 out, on terms next, led 2 out, strongly pressed last, ridden and headed over 100 yards out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Sea Ducor (11-4) at Gowran Park 2m hvy in Nov.
Grand Roi (FR) 13-2 (11-1) Settled 3rd, slight mistakes 7th and 4 out, closer on outer after 3 out, ridden before 2 out where slight mistake, no impression before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 4, 5 1/4l behind Beacon Edge (11-6) at Galway 2m 5f (1) sft in Oct.
Indiana Jones (FR) 5-2 (11-4) Prominent, soon 3rd, closed up after 3rd, soon on terms, headed from 5th, pushed along approaching straight, soon lost position and no impression, 4th of 7, dist behind Call Me Lyreen (11-4) at Naas 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Wolf Prince (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, soon 4th, closed on inner approaching straight travelling smoothly, switched right approaching 2 out, soon almost on terms, pushed along between last 2, kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Call Me Lyreen (11-4) at Naas 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Lunar Display (IRE) 18-1 (11-5) Rear of mid-division, towards rear 6f out, headway early straight, pushed along to go 4th under 2f out, 3rd early final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Castra Vetera (11-11) at Navan 2m lst (1) sft in Nov.
Gua Du Large (FR) 5-6fav (11-4) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along and led between final 2, soon edged right, slight mistake last and left clear, kept on well run-in, won at Thurles 2m mdn sft in Nov beating Landa Beach (11-9) by 23l, 13 ran.
