chased leaders, 8th halfway, no extra after 3 out, weakened
tracked leaders, 6th halfway, 4th and slight mistake 2 out, no impression approaching last, kept on one pace
mid-division, 11th halfway, no impression 2 out, kept on one pace straight
mid-division, 10th halfway, slight mistake 9th, no impression after 3 out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along and no impression after 2 out, 6th and slight mistake last, no extra
mid-division, 9th halfway, no extra after 2 out, eased run-in
rear of mid-division, 14th halfway, 12th 2 out, no impression straight, kept on one pace
rear of mid-division, 13th halfway, no impression 2 out, kept on one pace straight
rear of mid-division, 16th halfway, some progress in 10th 2 out, went 7th last, kept on one pace
rear of mid-division, 12th halfway, 8th 2 out, no impression straight, kept on one pace
led, headed 10th, pushed along and lost place 3 out, weakened
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, progress to dispute approaching 3 out, led 2 out, ridden and headed entering straight, kept on under pressure, led close home
mid-division outer, 7th halfway, pushed along and no impression early straight, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, jumped left 4 out, 2nd briefly 2 out, soon ridden and no impression in 4th last, kept on one pace
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, led and slight mistake 10th, joined after next, headed 2 out and soon no extra, weakened
always towards rear, closer 3 out, 13th next, no extra straight
held up towards rear, progress on inner 2 out, went 2nd entering straight and led approaching last, edged right under pressure run-in, headed close home
always towards rear, pu after 7th
This qualifier is always something of a lottery but nine of the last 10 winners have carried 10st8lb or less and that statistic is hard to ignore. MYDOR fits the bill this time as the five-year-old scored with a bit in hand at Leopardstown last time which has earned him a 9lb rise in the weights, just enough to get him into this race. Ruby Walsh again rides and the hat-trick beckons. Lite Duties has been brilliantly placed to complete his hat-trick which has included two victories on this track. He should be even better suited by this longer trip though a 10lb rise gives him more to do. Wrath Of Titans has been making steady progress and could hardly have been more impressive in his maiden success at Thurles while winning point-to-pointer Sir Abbot has been in fine form over shorter and should find this more to his liking. Lean Araig had shown promise in maidens before carrying a big weight to victory over the course and distance and, along with comfortable Thurles winner Golden Plan, makes this an intruiging qualifier for Cheltenham.
Prince Rudi (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Always towards rear, mistake 5th, no impression from 3 out, trailing when jumped right 2 out, last of 9, 33l behind Leap Dearg (11-10) at Naas 2m hcp chs sft in Jan.
Lite Duties (IRE) 4-1fav (10-6) Mid-division, progress into 6th 5 out, ridden into 3rd and pecked slightly 2 out, stayed on to lead before last where mistake, kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Navan 2m 4f hcp hdl in Dec beating Dara Tango (11-1) by 2 3/4l, 23 ran.
Flaming Dawn (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up, slight mistake 1st, 5th approaching 8th, in touch when fell 3 out, in a race won by Urano (11-12) at Cork 2m 4f beg chase hvy in Jan, 7 ran.
Thekingofconnemara (IRE) 5-1fav (10-12) Mid-division, pushed along on outer and no extra approaching 2 out, weakened, 16th of 21, 23l behind Usuel Smurfer (10-8) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft in Dec.
Grand Partner (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Mid-division, ridden in 7th 2 out, 5th entering straight, kept on without threatening in 4th run-in, 4th of 17, 5l behind Mydor (10-2) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft in Jan.
Off The Charts (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Chased leader, 8th halfway, progress to dispute entering straight, headed last, no impression on winner run-in, 2nd of 21, 2 1/4l behind Usuel Smurfer (10-8) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft in Dec.
The Housekeeper (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, slight mistake 6 out, progress into 5th before 4 out where mistake, ridden and no impression when fell 3 out, in a race won by Down Ace (11-0) at Down Royal 2m 4f beg chs sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Wrath Of Titans (IRE) Evensfav (11-12) Mid-division, 7th halfway, progress into 4th after 4 out, led 2 out, soon asserted, slight mistake last, kept on well run-in, comfortably, won at Thurles 2m 6f mdn hdl hvy in Dec beating Buck Dancing (11-4) by 8l, 17 ran.
Captainofthefleet (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, 5th at 6th, 6th 2 out, moderate 8th before straight and no impression, kept on without threatening run-in, 6th of 10, 12l behind Noble Endeavor (11-4) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl sft in Jan.
Sir Abbot (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, progress into 2nd approaching straight, ridden and no impression on leader, left in front last, soon headed and slightly hampered, kept on one pace, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Bentelimar (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl sft in Dec.
Whatuthink (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Led, headed 3rd, led again from 5th, headed 4 out, ridden and no impression from next, 9th of 17, 32l behind Mydor (10-2) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft in Jan.
Lean Araig (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, 2nd after 8th, on terms from 4 out, led before straight, asserted under pressure approaching last, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Punchestown 3m hcp hdl sft in Jan beating Sarah Battle (9-12) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
Gold Patrol (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Chased leader, 7th halfway, slightly hampered in 9th after 2 out, no impression approaching last, kept on one pace, 7th of 21, 10l behind Usuel Smurfer (10-8) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft in Dec.
Lord Scoundrel (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, no impression entering straight, no extra before last, 8th of 14, 20l behind Bentelimar (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl sft in Dec.
Golden Plan (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Prominent and disputed lead, slight mistake 2nd, led travelling well approaching last, kept on well, comfortably, won at Thurles 2m 4f hcp hdl in Jan beating Horendus Hulabaloo (11-6) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Malt Gem (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Soon tracked leaders, 4th at 7th, slight mistake 8th, bad mistake and unseated rider 10th, in a race won by Thunder And Roses (11-12) at Fairyhouse 3m beg chase in Jan, 8 ran.
Mydor (FR) 9-4fav (10-2) Rear of mid-division, headway from 3 out, 6th travelling well next, improved to dispute lead approaching last, bad mistake at last and headed briefly, pushed along to regain lead inside final furlong, stayed on well, cheekily, won at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft in Jan beating Archie Meade (11-1) by 1l, 17 ran.
Kostar (FR) 33-1 (9-3) Rear of mid-division, 7th after 4th, dropped to 12th 7 out, driven in rear after 6 out, no extra and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Grand Jesture (10-13) at Punchestown 2m 6f hcp chs in Dec, 13 ran.
