tracked leaders in 3rd, closed up before 4th, pushed along approaching straight, soon no impression, kept on without threatening run-in
prominent in 2nd, under pressure before 2 out, no impression from before last where slight mistake, kept on same pace run-in
chased leaders in 4th, slight mistake 3 out, no impression straight, soon weakened
made all, still travelling smoothly straight, went on approaching last, pushed out and stayed on well run-in, comfortably
waited with in rear, took closer order after 4th, pushed along after 3 out, soon no impression and weakened
BACHASSON arrives in top form and the race conditions are very much in his favour. A Grade 2 winner over fences in November, he reverted to hurdles with an easy victory at Punchestown and comes here 12lb lower than his chase mark and in receipt of 7lb from Beacon Edge. Noel Meade's charge completed a double when landing a Grade 3 at Galway and ran as well as ever when beaten less than a length behind Honeysuckle in the Hatton's Grade at Fairyhouse. Grand Roi was beaten 5 lengths in that Galway event but that was his first start for Gordon Elliott and he easily won a Grade 2 at Limerick subsequently. Coeur Sublime started the campaign with a good run but finished last in the Grade 1 Matheson at Leopardstown while Poseidon has never tackled this sort of company and the USA challenger Winston C hasn't run since September 2019.
Beacon Edge (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, soon disputed 3rd, a little keen, slight mistake 4th, effort in 2nd straight, one pace closing stages and dropped to 3rd near line, 3rd of 6, 1/2l behind Honeysuckle (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) sft in Nov.
Grand Roi (FR) 6-1 (11-4) Led, joined 7th, led again travelling well before 2 out, pushed along to assert before last, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Limerick 2m (1) hvy in Dec beating Wolf Prince (11-4) by 8l, 5 ran.
Poseidon (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) A little slow into stride, soon mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, one pace straight, 10th of 14, 21l behind Shanroe (9-8) at Killarney 1m 6f hcp sft in Oct.
Bachasson (FR) (11-6) Made all, slight mistakes 5 out and next, clear and in command 2 out, slight mistake last, stayed on well, very easily, won at Punchestown 2m 4f hvy in Dec beating Scarpeta (11-6) by 6 1/2l, 4 ran.
Winston C (IRE) 9-10fav (11-6) Late at 9, improved, 4th of 9, 7 1/2l behind Surprising Soul (10-4) at Belmont Park 2m 4f stks gd in Sep.
Coeur Sublime (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Rear, 7th at 4th, not fluent 4 out, under pressure after 2 out, detached and weakened before last, never a factor, last of 7, 35 3/4l behind Sharjah (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m (1) sft in Dec.
