always towards rear, 5th halfway, in touch in 5th after 3 out, pushed along and no impression when left 4th 2 out, ridden and no extra before last
led, raced wide, bad mistake 9th, slight mistake 6 out, headed and reminder 3 out, soon pushed along in 3rd, disputed 2 out, ridden before last, stayed on well, led closing stages
held up in touch, 4th halfway, close 4th 3 out, pushed along and no impression in 4th when fell 2 out
held up in touch, 3rd halfway, 2nd 5 out and pressed leader next, disputed 3 out, pushed along before next, ridden before last, kept on under pressure, headed closing stages, dropped to 3rd on line
tracked leader in 2nd, mistake 6 out, 3rd at next, disputed when pecked slightly 3 out, pushed along after next, headed narrowly last and soon close 3rd, ridden and kept on, 2nd on line
BILLAWAY has won this for the past three years and went on to land the championship events at Cheltenham and Punchestown last year. He usually needs a prep run, as he did last month when well beaten by smart young hunter Ferns Lock at Thurles, but will be ready for this. His stablemate Annamix, rated 154 over fences at his best, has been well beaten in a couple of starts between the flags recently and needs to do much better while Dinny Lacey was never a prolific winner under Rules and finished behind Le Malin in a Cragmore Open last month.
Annamix (FR) 6-1 (11-11) Ww in rr, 5th 1/2way, went 4th well bef 5out, no ex & btn in 4th well bef 3out, ko onepcd bhnd, 4th of 5, 24 1/2l behind Its On The Line (12-2) at Turtulla 3m sft in Jan.
Billaway (IRE) 6-5 (12-0) Disputed early, tracked leader after 3rd, 2nd halfway, slight mistake 5 out, pushed along after next, no extra before last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 20l behind Ferns Lock (11-11) at Thurles 3m 1f Yielding in Jan.
Dinny Lacey (IRE) 6-1 (12-2) Ld/disp, cl 2nd 1/2way, mstk 4out, drpd to cl 4th bef 2out, no ex from 2out, 4th of 9, 9 1/2l behind Winged Leader (12-2) at Cragmore 3m Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Grange Island (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden to press leaders before 2 out, close up and jumped slightly right 2 out, disputed last, narrowly headed run-in, kept on well, led at line, won at Clonmel 2m 4f mdn hvy in Jan beating Global Assembly (12-0) by hd, 12 ran.
Le Malin (FR) 6-1 (12-2) Mid-div, 3rd 1/2way, chall in cl 3rd bef 2out, kow aftr 2out & went 2nd cl hm, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Winged Leader (12-2) at Cragmore 3m Yielding - Soft in Jan.
