held up in touch, pushed along and outpaced approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, left 3rd last, kept on same pace
towards rear, ridden and held approaching 2 out, left poor 4th last
held up towards rear, went 3rd at 8th, 5 lengths down in 2nd when left in lead last, kept on, driven out
led, headed after 1st, in rear from 4th, soon tailed off
tracked leaders, led after 1st, hit 6th, headed when mistake 4 out, left 2nd last, kept on
tracked leader, led 4 out, 5 lengths up and going well when fell last
Sue Smith's Stagecoach Pearl is capable but is becoming expensive to follow over fences having found one too good in each of his last two starts and he may have to settle for minor honours again behind TREATY FLYER, who is preferred to Grand Opera. Gordon Elliott's gelding landed a beginners' chase at Ballinrobe at the start of the month and was not disgraced behind Tribes And Banner in a novice chase at Roscommon subsequently. He has every chance for a yard that does well with their runners in the UK and makes more appeal than the Nicky Richards-trained All For The Cause, who was pulled up here recently. Any market support for Tony Martin's Red Kingdom would be of interest but he needs to improve on all known form to trouble the selection, Treaty Flyer, who can resume winning ways.
Grand Opera (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, improved into 2nd 4 out, challenged next, close 3rd under pressure last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Tribes And Banner (11-9) at Roscommon 2m nov chs gf.
All For The Cause (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up in behind, struggling 7th, lost touch next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by The Rocking Dock (11-11) at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in May, 6 ran.
Red Kingdom (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, jumped well, 7th halfway, moderate 6th entering straight, went 4th before last, kept on well run-in, 2nd of 16, 5l behind Tribes And Banner (11-9) at Tipperary 2m 1f beg chase gf.
Saltrash (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, 13th of 17, well behind Clan Tara (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f beg chs hvy in Dec.
Stagecoach Pearl 3-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, led before 3 out, soon headed, led after 2 out, driven flat and headed flat, unable to quicken, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Ormus (10-1) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Treaty Flyer (IRE) 4-5fav (10-7) In touch, joined leader 4th, led narrowly 7th, ridden clear after 3 out, eased flat, comfortable, won at Fakenham 2m beg chase (4) gf in May beating El Presidente (10-11) by 15l, 5 ran.
