held up in touch in rear, 7th halfway, ridden and no impression in moderate 5th after 3 out, no extra from before last
led, pressed entering straight and joined 3 out, pushed along before next, ridden and headed approaching last, no impression run-in and dropped to 3rd final 100 yards, kept on one pace
mid-division, 5th halfway, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression in 3rd when not fluent next, slight mistake last, went moderate 2nd final 100 yards, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, 2nd halfway, not fluent 8th, pushed along to press leader entering straight, ridden and no impression after 3 out, moderate 4th 2 out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, 2nd when mistake 5th, 3rd halfway, pushed along approaching straight and moderate 6th after 3 out, ridden and no impression from next, kept on one pace without threatening run-in
chased leaders, 4th halfway, progress entering straight and on terms 3 out, led travelling well approaching last, pecked slightly at last, went clear run-in, very easily
towards rear, slight mistake 6th, 6th halfway, ridden and no extra entering straight, weakened and pulled up before 3 out
Winning point-to-pointer Gars De Sceaux showed courage when battling back to score over 2m4f here in January and the longer trip is certain to suit. Red Gerry has won twice at Punchestown, the latest over 2m4f, and he ran well in a Grade B handicap over that trip here when last seen in November. VELVET ELVIS (NAP) is a real staying type as he showed when scoring over 3m at Cork then following up on very testing ground at Thurles when Carrolls Cottage was well beaten. He gets the nod despite Indiana Jones being the form pick on his placed effort in a Limerick Grade 2, though his earlier victory at Cork was over 2m and this is a huge step up in trip. Ragnar Lodbrok has no problems staying having twice finished runner-up over 3m but Born Patriot made too many mistakes at Musselburgh. Whirling Dervish had a hard race when landing a Thurles handicap on Thursday and will need to find more here.
Red Gerry (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, moderate 5th at 5th, closed 3 out, effort straight, soon challenged, one pace last, 3rd of 16, 7l behind Barnaviddaun (10-4) at Naas 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Velvet Elvis (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Disputed lead early, soon led, slight mistake 4 out, ridden and went on from 2 out, slight mistake last, stayed on well run-in, won at Thurles 2m 4f hvy in Feb beating Capilano Bridge (11-2) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Ragnar Lodbrok (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Held up in touch in rear, pushed along from 4 out, ridden and trailing 3 out, no impression, left remote 5th at last, 5th of 7, dist behind Bob Olinger (11-12) at Naas 2m 4f (1) hvy in Jan.
Born Patriot (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Mid-division, pushed along approaching 3 out, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on well and took 3rd after the last, 3rd of 8, 15 3/4l behind Threeunderthrufive (11-8) at Musselburgh 3m (2) sft in Feb.
Carrolls Cottage (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, closed up from 5 out, not fluent next and pushed along, no extra straight, one pace, 5th of 8, 13 1/4l behind Velvet Elvis (11-0) at Thurles 2m 4f hvy in Feb.
Gars De Sceaux (FR) 8-15fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, on terms 3 out, soon pushed along, mistake 2 out, ridden to lead when not fluent last, narrowly headed early run-in, stayed on well under pressure to lead again post, won at Navan 2m 4f mdn hvy in Jan beating Fair Frontieres (12-0) by hd, 20 ran.
Indiana Jones (FR) 8-1 (11-4) 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, 3rd of 5, 8 1/4l behind Grand Roi (11-4) at Limerick 2m (1) hvy in Dec.
Whirling Dervish 9-2 (11-10) Tracked leader, disputed briefly after 5th, disputed again 4 out and led next, ridden after 2 out and headed last, rallied run-in and kept on well to lead again close home, won at Thurles 2m 7f hcp hvy in Mar beating Kellyiscool (10-9) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
