mid-division on outer, headway into 3rd 5 out, travelling well 3 out, improved to lead and pushed along after 2 out, pushed along and pressed with 0.5L lead when jumped slightly right and left clear at last, ridden and stayed on well inside final furlong
tracked leaders, 2nd at 4th, slight mistake next, 3rd 5 out, weakened from 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway into 2nd 5 out, ridden in 2nd 2 out, dropped to 3rd before last, left 2nd at last, no extra in 3rd inside final furlong
disputed lead early, led from 2nd, ridden and strongly pressed 2 out, soon headed, no impression in 4th when left 3rd at last. kept on without threatening winner in 2nd inside final furlong
held up in rear, pushed along briefly at 8th, ridden in 5th 3 out, headway on wide outer into 4th 2 out, improved into 0.5L 2nd and pressing winner when bumped slightly and fell at last
always towards rear, mistake 10th and pushed along, no impression from 4 out
disputed lead early, slight mistake and headed at 2nd, dropped to mid-division at 5th, pushed along at 10th, towards rear when mistake 11th, no impression, pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, closer in mid-division at 4th, dropped to rear at 8th, trailing 9th, pulled up before 4 out
rear of mid-division, took keen hold, closer in 5th 5 out, slight mistake 4 out, 4th next, ridden in 4th entering straight, no impression from 2 out
tracked leaders, mistake 5th, 4th 4 out, ridden and no impression from next
mid-division, dropped to 8th and slight mistake 5 out, no impression from 3 out
This looks a strong Grade 3. Shady Operator and Ballyward fought out a tremendous finish over 3m1f at Punchestown with the former getting up on the line to score by a short-head. He'd already had a spin over fences but the runner-up was making his debut and hadn't been seen since April. However, CHRIS'S DREAM had Shady Operator 10 lengths behind at Navan earlier and though that was over 2m4f there's every reason to believe he'll be even better over this trip so he gets the vote. Champagne Classic hasn't run since the spring of 2017, when he won the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham then a Grade 1 at Punchestown. But he's won a point-to-point so could be a high-class recruit to fences and has three Grade 1 entries at Cheltenham. Discorama couldn't get close to Delta Work at Fairyhouse but had Blow By Blow, who had beaten him in last season's Martin Pipe, behind and the form has worked out.
Ballyward (IRE) 9-4 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd 3 out, headway into 2nd next, ridden and led at last, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, no extra and headed near line, 2nd of 7, shd behind Shady Operator (11-12) at Punchestown 3m 1f gd in Dec.
Blow By Blow (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, slow 10th and reminder after 5 out, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and no impression in 3rd approaching last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 7, 18l behind Delta Work (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) gd in Dec.
Champagne Classic (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders in 5th, went 3rd and mistake 5 out, ridden in 3rd after 2 out, headway to lead approaching last, stayed on well run-in, won at Punchestown 3m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr beating Penhill (11-10) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Chris's Dream (IRE) 15-8 (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd early, led from 3rd and made rest, jumped well, pushed along and clear 2 out, reminder and reduced advantage inside final furlong, stayed on well close home, won at Navan 2m 4f Yielding in Dec beating Gun Digger (11-12) by 3l, 12 ran.
Discorama (FR) 6-1 (11-10) Rear of mid-division on inner, closer in 6th 4 out, ridden in 6th 2 out, soon no impression, 5th of 11, 16 1/2l behind Delta Work (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) gd in Dec.
Last Man Standing (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, ridden in moderate 6th after 4 out, soon no impression, 5th of 12, 20 1/4l behind Chris's Dream (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f Yielding in Dec.
Moonshine Bay (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along before 2 out and no impression approaching last, no extra, kept on one pace, 4th of 7, 18 3/4l behind Delta Work (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) gd in Dec.
Rathnure Rebel (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Led, pressed from 5 out, ridden and headed entering straight, no extra in 4th before 2 out, weakened, 5th of 6, dist behind Monalee (11-2) at Clonmel 3m (1) hvy in Feb.
Shady Operator (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, closer in 5th 6 out, pushed along in 5th 3 out, headway from 2 out, close 3rd on inner approaching last, soon ridden, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on well close home, led near line, won at Punchestown 3m 1f gd in Dec beating Ballyward (11-12) by shd, 7 ran.
The Conditional (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd briefly at 7th, 4th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression on leaders, 4th of 7, 14 1/2l behind Shady Operator (11-12) at Punchestown 3m 1f gd in Dec.
Majurca (FR) 28-1 (11-3) Towards rear, not fluent 8th, slightly closer in 5th when fell 3 out, at Limerick 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
