(very poor visibility) mid-division, 5th at 5th, moderate 6th before 3 out, soon no extra
(very poor visibility) chased leaders, 4th at 5th, pushed along before 3 out, no impression in moderate 5th before next, kept on one pace
very poor visibility) tracked leaders, raced keenly, closer in 2nd at 5th, still 2nd when mistake and pushed along 4 out, ridden and no impression before 2 out, no extra in moderate 4th before last, kept on one pace
(very poor visibility) held up in rear, raced keenly, 7th at 5th, no extra and losing touch in rear when pulled up before 4 out
(very poor visibility) tracked leaders, raced keenly, 3rd at 5th, still 3rd and pushed along before 2 out, ridden and no impression on principals before last, kept on one pace
(very poor visibility) led, still travelling well in front before 2 out, ridden and joined before last, led again after last and stayed on best run-in
(very poor visibility) held up towards rear, 6th at 5th, progress travelling well in 5th 3 out, closing in 4th before next, on terms and travelling best before last, ridden and headed and not match winner run-in, kept on same pace
Willie Mullins has won four of the last five including the last two with MIN, both on his reappearance. Last seen winning the Ryanair at Cheltenham, it will take a top performance from preventing him completing a hat-trick. The stable also have three other entries, all top-notch performers, so this is no easy task and the lightly-raced Allaho, who just failed to hold Champ and Minella Indo in the RSA over 3m at Cheltenham, should be ideally suited by the trip and has more scope than these rivals. Battleoverdoyen and Samcro give Gordon Elliott a strong hand and the former should find this trip to his liking after just failing to stay in the RSA. He had his stablemate 6 lengths behind in a Grade 2 at Down Royal where he looked very impressive while Chris's Dream just failed to hold the late burst of The Storyteller in a Grade 1 over 3m on the latter track.
Allaho (FR) 5-2fav (11-4) Led after 1st, headed next, led 5th, not fluent and pecked 12th, headed after 2 out, every chance from last, 3rd and no extra close home, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Champ (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Battleoverdoyen (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) Disputed lead early, soon tracked leaders, jumped big 9th, led 3 out, stayed on well run-in, won at Down Royal 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Oct beating Easy Game (11-12) by 6l, 5 ran.
Chris's Dream (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Waited with, moderate 7th after 6th, took closer order approaching 11th, soon chased leaders, prominent and travelling smoothly from 3 out, challenged and on terms 2 out, soon gained narrow lead, strongly pressed and kept on well run-in, headed near line, 2nd of 9, nk behind The Storyteller (11-12) at Down Royal 3m (1) Yielding in Oct.
Le Richebourg (FR) 11-10fav (11-10) Raced in 5th, left in 4th from 2nd, 3rd at 5th, travelling smoothly approaching straight, challenged from before last, soon on terms and left in lead, ridden out to assert run-in, stayed on well, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) gd in Feb beating Us And Them (11-10) by 7l, 6 ran.
Melon 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led after 4th, joined 3 out, ridden after next, headed narrowly after last, rallied gamely flat, upsides near finish, just lost out on nod, 2nd of 12, shd behind Samcro (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Mar.
Min (FR) 2-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, led narrowly 5th, made most after, joined turning in, shaken up before last, ridden 11/2 lengths clear flat, hard pressed towards finish, edged right, all out, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Mar beating Saint Calvados (11-10) by nk, 8 ran.
Tornado Flyer (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) Chased clear leader, closer in 5th halfway, slow 6 out, headway 4 out and went 2nd 2 out, pushed along and no impression on winner from before last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 17, 4 1/2l behind Daly Tiger (10-11) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Samcro (IRE) 2-1 (12-0) Waited with, soon in touch towards rear, closed approaching 3 out where slight mistake, soon effort, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 5, 6 1/4l behind Battleoverdoyen (12-0) at Down Royal 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Oct.
