soon tracked leaders, fell 3rd
waited with, slight mistake 1st, slight mistake 2nd and bandage soon loose on hind leg, 6th after 4th, a little slow 9th and pushed along briefly in last, no extra after 11th, weakened
chased leaders, slightly impeded 3rd, 5th after 4th, pushed along after 11th, 4th approaching straight, disputed 2nd and left chasing winner from 2 out, soon no extra, one pace
soon towards rear, brought down 3rd
waited in rear, slight mistake 7th, some headway 10th in moderate 6th, soon no danger
soon prominent in 2nd, on terms 10th, led before 3 out travelling smoothly, asserted from 2 out, stayed on well, easily
soon led, mistake 9th, joined 10th, headed before 3 out, disputed 2nd and no extra when fell 2 out
waited with, bad mistake 1st, quickly pulled up
chased leaders, 4th after 4th, a little slow 8th, 3rd and pushed along after 11th, no extra when impeded 2 out, 4th again and one pace after
chased leaders, 3rd after 4th, slight mistake 11th, soon 4th, 5th approaching straight and under pressure, no extra when impeded 2 out, 3rd again and one pace after
prominent early, waited with, slightly impeded 3rd, 7th after 4th, pushed along briefly 8th, slight mistake 10th, pushed along again from next, soon no danger
VIS TA LOI is bred for chasing so everything he did over timber was a bonus. A winner at Clonmel on his debut for Willie Mullins a year ago, his best subsequent run came when a close third behind the very useful Fury Road in a Grade 2 at Limerick. However, Paul Townend has chose Colreevy, a Grade 1-winning bumper who didn't quite hit the heights over hurdles despite an easy maiden victory at Limerick. Rachael Blackmore has chosen Kilbeggan winner Royal Thief over Popong, who she rode to victory over fences at Listowel and when a close fourth in a Grade 3 here while Jack Kennedy rides Thatsy, well beaten by Packens Rock on his chasing bow at Galway, over Diamond Turf, still a maiden over fences after eight starts. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Peter Maher get The Big Dog back to his best as he's still only seven while Fils D'oudairies, a lightly-raced winning hurdler in France, is a very interesting recruit for Joseph O'Brien.
Jack Hackett (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, a little keen, 4th halfway, slight mistake 2 out, ridden and no impression in 3rd entering straight, kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 6 1/2l behind Pakens Rock (11-9) at Galway 2m 2f sft in Oct.
Got Trumped 33-1 (10-7) Not fluent 1st and bumped with rival, prominent, not fluent 2nd and at times after, a little keen, 6th approaching 3 out, soon under pressure and weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Down Royal 2m hcp sft in Oct.
Popong (IRE) 5-2 (10-10) Tracked leaders disputing 3rd, 3rd at 5th, improved into 2nd after 3 out, ridden to dispute lead 2 out, headed approaching last, 3rd and slight mistake at last, no extra, 4th close home, 4th of 5, 3 1/4l behind Zarkareva (10-1) at Punchestown 2m 3f (1) Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Royal Thief (IRE) 6-4fav (12-0) Raced 4th, took closer order before 4 out, closed 3 out, on terms 2 out, led narrowly at last, ridden and edged left and bumped rival run-in, kept on best under pressure, won at Kilbeggan 3m 1f sft in Oct beating Battle Of Midway (12-0) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Carrigmoorna Pine (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) In rear, no impression from 3 out, moderate 7th from 2 out, kept on under hand ride, never involved, 7th of 11, 23 1/4l behind Farmix (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m hvy in Nov.
Colreevy (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Led until just after 2nd, prominent, led before last, soon headed, no extra towards finish, 5th of 22, 17l behind Concertista (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Mar.
Fils D'oudairies (FR) (10-7) won at Auteuil 2m 1f sft in Nov beating Flamant Star (10-7) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
Gran Geste (FR) 4-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, 7th halfway, pushed along after 3 out, 5th when mistake 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, not fluent last, kept on one pace to go 3rd run-in, 3rd of 10, 11 3/4l behind Agent Boru (10-4) at Galway 2m 5f hcp sft in Oct.
Thatsy (FR) 6-5fav (12-0) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, headway 2 out and disputed lead briefly last, soon pushed along and no impression on winner from over 1f out, no extra, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Pakens Rock (12-0) at Galway 2m 2f sft in Oct.
The Big Dog (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, lost place 2 out and soon short of room, pushed along in 7th entering straight, headway into 3rd before last where slight mistake, kept on well run-in, 2nd of 12, 4 3/4l behind Zero Ten (12-0) at Punchestown 2m 4f Yielding in May.
Vis Ta Loi (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Led, mistake 2nd, joined 5 out, ridden and headed after 4 out, weakened 3 out, in rear when badly hampered 2 out, no impression, 6th of 9, 37 1/2l behind Run Wild Fred (11-2) at Punchestown 3m (1) hvy in Feb.
Diamond Turf (FR) 80-1 (10-3) Waited with towards rear, 21st at 8th, not fluent 10th, mistake 6 out and under pressure, pulled up before 3 out, at Navan 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
