tracked leaders, slight mistake 3rd, not fluent 7th, slight mistake 4 out, on terms next, soon led but quickly headed, no extra from before 2 out
waited with, bad mistake and unseated rider 3rd
close up, dropped to 5th before straight, no impression when not fluent 2 out, soon no extra
waited with, not fluent 3rd, slight mistake 5th and pushed along briefly, 7th approaching halfway, slight mistake 4 out, jumped slightly left 3 out, no extra from before straight
chased leaders, 6th approaching halfway, improved to get on terms 3 out, 3rd before straight, soon no impression, no extra when slight mistake last
soon narrow leader, slight mistake 4 out, joined next, soon headed and switched left, quickly led again, joined before 2 out, soon headed and one pace
waited with towards rear, pushed along approaching 4 out, no extra from before straight
close up, not fluent 3rd, lost position and no extra from before straight
chased leaders early, 8th approaching halfway, pecked 6th, slight mistake 4 out, no extra from before straight
tracked leaders, closed up 7th, not fluent 4 out and under pressure, lost position and no extra from before straight
waited with towards rear, headway 4 out, 4th before straight and travelling smoothly, on terms from before 2 out, soon led, pushed out and stayed on well run-in, comfortably
waited with, fell 2nd
Croco Bay caused a 66/1 shock in the Grand Annual when beating Bun Doran just over a length. The winner is just 1lb worse off but seems to run better at Cheltenham than anywhere else. Eamon An Cnoic is another UK raider but he'll need to get over a poor run at Aintree to figure. SNUGSBOROUGH HALL completed a double before heading to Fairyhouse and was travelling smoothly when carried out at the third last. The race was won by Impact Factor, who should get into contention again, but Liam Cusack's charge is taken to gain compensation. Don't Touch It won this in 2017 and has scored three times on the track so is another to consider along with Moon Over Germany, an easy winner of the Red Rum at Aintree, though Rachael Blackmore deserts him for stable-companion Mind's Eye, who ran out in Impact Factor's race at Fairyhouse.
Bun Doran (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) In touch in mid-division, headway on inside 9th, close 3rd 2 out, challenged last, every chance flat, no impression close home, 2nd of 19, 1 1/2l behind Croco Bay (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Doctor Phoenix (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Waited with, soon in rear, not much and not fluent 2nd, bad mistake 9th, soon no impression under pressure, 5th of 6, 33 1/4l behind Jett (11-2) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Moon Over Germany (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Prominent, led before 4th, jumped right 7th and 8th, clear between last 2, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Aintree 2m hcp (1) sft in Apr beating Lady Buttons (11-6) by 10l, 13 ran.
Don't Touch It (IRE) 15-8 (11-7) Waited with off pace, closer order 5th, soon tracked leaders, slight mistake 3 out, soon pushed along briefly, effort on outer into straight, no impression run-in, no extra and dropped to rear final 100yds, last of 4, 9l behind Eight Till Late (11-2) at Punchestown 2m gd in Oct.
Croco Bay (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 10th, hard pressed from last, stayed on well, well on top close home, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar beating Bun Doran (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 19 ran.
Impact Factor (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 6 out, close up on outer 5 out, disputed entering straight, ridden after 3 out, left in lead 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr beating Quamino (11-8) by 5 1/2l, 9 ran.
Tycoon Prince (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, some headway when mistake 4 out, 2nd approaching 2 out where mistake, pushed along to close at last, ridden run-in and every chance final 50 yards, just failed, 2nd of 6, shd behind Goulane Chosen (11-12) at Limerick 2m 2f hcp gd in Mar.
Mind's Eye (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Led, headed before 2nd, disputed 5 out, ridden after 3 out, veered right and ran out approaching 2 out, at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Eamon An Cnoic (IRE) 6-1 (10-10) Jumped right in mid-division, closed 5th, lost place 3 out, weakened before next, 9th of 13, dist behind Moon Over Germany (10-7) at Aintree 2m hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Nearly Nama'd (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Soon chased leaders, not fluent 8th, effort straight, soon one pace, 3rd of 9, 11 1/2l behind Westerner Point (11-10) at Wexford 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Snugsborough Hall (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, progress into 5th 4 out, travelled well and closed in 3rd 3 out, pressed leaders when carried out approaching 2 out, at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Stowaway Forever (IRE) 2-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd at 5th, close 3rd 3 out, 2nd next, soon ridden, disputed lead briefly at last, headed run-in, kept on same pace under pressure inside final furlong, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Or Jaune De Somoza (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f Good - Yielding in Apr.
