mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden 2f out, 4th over 1f out, kept on to 2nd inside final furlong, lost 2nd on line
led, headed entering straight, soon ridden, no extra in 2nd over 1f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, 4th closing stages
mid-division, 7th halfway, headway into 4th 3f out, ridden into 2nd briefly entering straight, under pressure in 4th 2f out, 3rd 1f out, kept on final furlong to 2nd on line
always towards rear, ridden and no impression before straight, weakened and completely tailed off
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden 2f out, 3rd and no impression leaders 1 1/2f out, no extra from 1f out
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and weakened over 3f out
held up, 8th halfway, ridden and no impression entering straight, moderate 6th 1f out, kept on final furlong
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, headway to lead entering straight, ridden and kept on well from over 1f out
chased leader, 2nd halfway, ridden and no extra entering straight, weakened
always towards rear, ridden in moderate 9th entering straight, soon no extra
held up towards rear, ridden into moderate 7th entering straight, soon no impression
Willie Mullins and Noel Meade have both won this three times in the past ten years. The former had six entered at the early stage and relies on a trio headed by the impressive Champion Bumper winner BRIAR HILL. That is by far the best form of any in this race and though stablemate Outlander remains unbeaten in bumpers he doesn't look quite up to the selection's class nor does Sizing Tennessee, who was beaten a long way at Cheltenham. Meade's only representative is Apache Stronghold, a Down Royal winner but put in his place by today's rival The Mighty Milan at Fairyhouse. David Pipe sends The Liquidator from the UK and the Cheltenham fourth can go well. He wouldn't be coming here unless connections were confident of getting closer to the winner.
Apache Stronghold (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Settled in mid-division, 5th halfway, good headway to go 2nd entering straight, soon ridden and no impression on winner under 2f out, dropped to 3rd 1f out and kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 5l behind The Mighty Milan (11-11) at Fairyhouse 2m N H flat.
Blackmail (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, effort over 3f out, ridden and lost place over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 15th of 23, 36l behind Briar Hill (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m N H flat G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Gilt Shadow (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Waited with last of the 5, 4th straight, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 5, 6l behind Union Dues (11-11) at Navan 2m nat hunt flat Grade 2 (1) hvy in Dec.
Makethedifference (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Held up in 6th, progress into 4th travelling well 2f out, soon ridden, 2nd 1f out, stayed on strongly final furlong to lead close home, won at Navan 2m N H flat in Mar beating Kandinski (11-7) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Outlander (IRE) 11-10fav (11-13) Led, headed after 2f, travelling well in 2nd entering straight, ridden to lead under 1f out, stayed on well close home, won at Naas 2m N H flat in Feb beating Kick On Boss (11-6) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Posiden Sea (FR) 100-1 (11-5) Mid-division on inside, outpaced 3f out, ridden and stayed on same pace final 2f, never on terms, 9th of 23, 20l behind Briar Hill (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m N H flat G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Sizing Tennessee (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders to 4f out, weakened 3f out, 21st of 23, well behind Briar Hill (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m N H flat G1 (1) gs in Mar.
The Liquidator 16-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, outpaced over 3f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace under pressure final 2f, just failed for 3rd, no impression, 4th of 23, 10l behind Briar Hill (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m N H flat G1 (1) gs in Mar.
The Mighty Milan (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders on inner, 4th halfway, headway to lead approaching straight, ridden 2f out and kept on well under pressure, all out to just hold on, won at Fairyhouse 2m N H flat beating Azorian (11-4) by hd, 7 ran.
Que Pasa (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) In rear, headway from 4f out, improved to lead and ridden 1 1/2f out, soon strongly pressed, headed under 1f out, no extra close home, 3rd of 19, 8l behind Joanne One (10-13) at Navan 2m mrs N H flat lst (1) hvy in Nov.
Grecian Tiger (IRE) 4-5fav (11-6) Soon mid-division, improved to track leaders under 4f out, 3rd before straight, ridden in 4th from 2f out, 3rd and no impression final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Private Treasure (11-2) at Limerick 2m Lstd N H flat (1) gd.
Briar Hill (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Held up behind, headway on outside 5f out, tracked leaders 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon clear, ran on well, won at Cheltenham 2m N H flat G1 (1) gs in Mar beating Regal Encore (11-5) by 7l, 23 ran.
