chased leader, 4th halfway, ridden in 5th entering straight and soon no extra, tailed off
chased leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along in straight and no impression in 4th over 2f out, no extra over 1f out
chased leader, 3rd halfway, pushed along in 2nd over 2f out, 1 length down 150 yards out, under pressure and kept on one pace
chased leader, 5th halfway, pushed along in 3rd over 2f out, ridden and no impression 1f out, kept on one pace
made all, 3 lengths clear halfway, ridden 1f out and kept on under pressure final 100 yards
always rear, never a factor, pushed along and detached entering straight, no extra, tailed off
This has been won by the likes of Dunguib and Don Cossack. Champagne Harmony had to battle to complete his double at Cork but at least we know he act's on testing ground. Jack The Wire followed his point-to-point victory with a comfortable success on heavy going at Tipperary and should make further progress but those who witnessed OUR DUKE demolish his field on soft going at Punchestown last month won't want to miss him this time and he's hard to oppose. Babbling Stream beat today's rival Kalopsia at Limerick in April but was then turned over at long odds-on before running out at Punchestown so he's best watched. Death Duty was a very impressive winner at Down Royal and looks the main threat in an interesting bumper.
Champagne Harmony (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, a little keen, 3rd approaching straight, challenged in 2nd from under 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on well final furlong to just hold on at the finish, won at Cork 2m hvy in Nov beating Commeragh Trix (10-11) by hd, 13 ran.
Jack The Wire (IRE) 9-4 (12-0) Held up, moderate 7th before halfway, improved into 3rd 4f out, tracked leader before straight, led under 2f out, clear from 1f out, stayed on well, won at Tipperary 2m 2f Soft - Heavy in May beating Knocknanuss (12-0) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Our Duke (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, closer order 5f out, on terms 4f out, soon led, asserted approaching straight, soon clear, stayed on well, easily, won at Punchestown 2m sft in Nov beating De Plotting Shed (12-0) by 21l, 8 ran.
Babbling Stream 11-4 (11-7) Led, ran freely, ran off bend and out of race after 3f, at Punchestown 2m sft in Nov.
Death Duty (IRE) 1-2fav (11-10) Chased leaders, challenged travelling smoothly from over 3f out, soon led, pushed along from 2f out, asserted from over 1f out, stayed on well, easily, won at Down Royal 2m Yielding in Oct beating Catch A Lucky Star (12-0) by 16l, 12 ran.
Lilly's Express (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway 6f out, 4th 5f out, 3rd 3f out, ridden to challenge 2f out, under pressure in 2nd 1f out, no extra final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 5 3/4l behind Frontline (12-0) at Killarney 2m 1f gf in Jul.
Kalopsia (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Mid-division, 8th 3f out, ridden and no impression over 2f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 15, 25 1/2l behind Augusta Kate (11-3) at Navan 2m lst (1) sft in Nov.
