led and disputed, mistake 6th, 2nd 4 out, disputed lead entering straight, ridden and headed after 3 out, no impression on winner from 2 out, kept on same pace run-in,
led and disputed, led 4 out, ridden and headed 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, moderate 4th 2 out, tired and pulled up before last
held up in 5th, pushed along 8th and again 9th, no impression in remote 5th when jumped right 3 out and pulled up
tracked leaders in 3rd, improved to dispute 2nd from 7th, disputed lead from 12th, mistake 4 out and briefly dropped to 3rd, pushed along disputing lead entering straight, led after 3 out, ridden and stayed on well from 2 out
held up in rear, pushed along briefly 2nd, no impression from 4 out, remote 4th after 2 out, never a factor
held up disputing 4th, slight mistake 5th, ridden in moderate 4th 3 out, moderate 3rd next, kept on one pace
It's almost two years since MR DIABLO (NAP) won a tough Leopardstown handicap but he's been competing at a very high level and his second in the Grade B Troytown Handicap over the course and distance in November would be easily good enough for this. Velocity Boy does best with plenty of give in the ground and he's on a long losing run unlike Concordin. The latter was conceding 19lb to Danse Away when scoring by a neck over 2m4f at Cork and, with this longer trip no problem, he's an obvious contender. Lamb Or Cod is very well handicapped on his old UK form and, though beaten a long way on his debut for Gordon Elliott here in December, a better show is expected here.
Mr Diablo (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and no extra after 3 out, 8th of 18, 23 1/2l behind Invitation Only (11-6) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Velocity Boy (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Prominent and led from 5th, slight mistake 4 out, pushed along approaching last where slight mistake, ridden and headed early run-in, no extra, 2nd of 9, 14l behind Roaring Bull (11-9) at Naas 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Feb.
Concordin (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Mid-division, 5th halfway, headway on inner after 3 out and pushed along to challenge last, ridden and kept on well run-in to lead closing stages, won at Cork 2m 4f hcp sft in Jan beating Danse Away (10-13) by nk, 11 ran.
Lilshane (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Rear of mid-division, slight mistake 1st and mistake 6th, no impression from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Naas 2m 4f hcp Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Lamb Or Cod (IRE) 25-1 (9-13) Always towards rear, hampered at 1st, slight mistake next, pushed along at 5th, no impression from 5 out, 12th of 17, dist behind De Name Escapes Me (9-11) at Navan 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Shelford (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Held up, mistake 1st, mistake and unseated rider next, at Sandown 3m (3) sft in Feb.
