tracked leaders, slow 5th, 4th halfway, 3rd 4 out, pushed along and no impression in 5th approaching 2 out, soon no extra
tracked leader, 3rd halfway, travelled well approaching 2 out, ridden in 2nd before last and no impression on winner run-in, kept on one pace
held up towards rear, headway 11th and led next, pushed along and headed before 2 out, no impression in 3rd before last, no extra run-in
led, jumped right 9th, headed 12th, 4th 4 out and pushed along early straight, no impression when mistake 2 out, soon no extra
in rear, never a factor, detached 5 out, pushed along and no impression entering straight, no extra, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, slow 1st, 2nd halfway, slight mistake 10th, headway to lead before 2 out, ridden to assert approaching last and kept on well run-in
The veteran Salsify, once the top hunter-chaser in the business, is a light of former days but Billaway and Coastal Tiep are half his age and on the upgrade in this sort of company though the latter ran poorly at Down Royal in December. Thunder And Roses won the Irish National in 2015 but hasn't won anywhere subsequently but Sydney Paget, 15 times a winner between the flags, was only beaten half-a-length by UCELLO CONTI at Aghabullogue last month. The winner has easily won a Thurles hunter-chase since and can come out on top again though Timewaitsfornoone is lightly-raced and has the potential to do well in this sphere.
Billaway (IRE) 7-4fav (12-0) Led, joined from 5f out, pushed along before straight, headed over 1f out, no extra and one pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Famous Saying (11-6) at Tipperary 2m 2f sft in May.
Coastal Tiep (FR) 5-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, progress in 7th after 4 out, ridden in 4th and no impression 3 out, soon no extra, 5th of 11, dist behind Stand Up And Fight (11-7) at Down Royal 2m 6f Yielding in Dec.
Salsify (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, headway before 4 out and went 2nd 3 out, pushed along and no impression in 4th before last, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 6, 11l behind Sizing Coal (11-8) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f sft in Feb.
Sydney Paget (IRE) 9-4 (12-2) Mid-div, 3rd bef 4out, 3l 3rd well aftr 2out & went 2l 2nd bef last, so flat & gaining on wnr to line, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Ucello Conti (12-2) at Aghabullogue 3m gd in Jan.
Thunder And Roses (IRE) 11-4 (12-2) Prom, ran 3rd until 4th frm 5th, rdn in 6th afr 6out, fair 6th aftr 4out, 5th aftr 3out, sl prog in 4th bef last, ko, 4th of 8, 19l behind Arctic Skipper (12-2) at Boulta 3m gd in Jan.
Ucello Conti (FR) 4-6fav (11-7) Settled behind leaders, 3rd halfway, closer 3 out, disputed before straight, ridden in 2nd after 2 out, stayed on and disputed again last when left in front, kept on well run-in, won at Thurles 3m gd in Jan beating Samanntom (11-11) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Timewaitsfornoone (IRE) 25-1 (12-0) Mid-division early, 7th from 6th, closer in 4th from 13th, not fluent 3 out, no impression when slight mistake 2 out, kept on run-in without troubling winner into 2nd on line, 2nd of 13, 21l behind Caid Du Berlais (12-0) at Punchestown 3m 1f sft in Apr.
