towards rear and slow jump 3rd, 7th halfway, not fluent 7 out, progress into 4th 3 out, pushed along and no extra before last, kept on into 3rd run-in
led, pushed along and pressed from 2 out, ridden and headed before last, no extra and kept on same pace run-in
tracked leaders and 3rd halfway, not fluent 15th, improved into 2nd 4 out and challenged from 2 out where not fluent, led before last and ridden clear run-in
tracked leaders and 4th halfway, pushed along before 7 out and dropped towards rear, not fluent next, no extra in rear from 3 out
towards rear and 6th halfway, dropped to rear before 7 out and not fluent next, no impression from 2 out and went moderate 6th before last
mid-division, not fluent 5th and dropped to rear, some progress before 6 out where not fluent, pushed along before 2 out where mistake, no extra in 5th before last and kept on same pace run-in
tracked leader in 2nd and a bit keen, pushed along before 4 out and soon lost place, ridden and no extra from 2 out
mid-division and mistake 4th, 5th halfway, took closer order before 6 out and went 3rd before 3 out, ridden before last where not fluent and soon no extra, dropped to 4th run-in
Enjoy D'allen has never been a prolific winner and faces these unique obstacles for the first time but he's a strong stayer and would be conceding weight in a handicap. Vital Island has won twice around here including the La Touche over 4m2f at the Festival in April though he'd been beaten over slightly further than this two days earlier by Three By Two, who was receiving 12lb. Enda Bolger has three entries with Mica Malpic making his debut on the course though arriving in quite good form. Birchdale had a run over the course at the Festival but CHAMPAGNE PLATINUM could prove the stable pick. He had a sighter in this a year ago then followed with an excellent fourth in the Grand National Trial over the regulation fences and a run in the Cork National three weeks ago will have put him straight for this. Singing Banjo finished runner-up to Delta Work in this last year so is another to be considered.
Mica Malpic (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Towards rear and 6th halfway, pushed along in rear before 3 out, no impression in moderate 5th before next, kept on into 4th close home, 4th of 7, 20l behind Jody Ted (11-10) at Limerick 2m 3f hcp sft in Oct.
Vital Island (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) at Craon 3m 6f lst gs in Sep.
Birchdale (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Rear of mid division, mistake 8 out, 7th 3 out, no impression in 6th entering straight, stayed on to go 4th after 2 out, left 3rd last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 17 3/4l behind Mars Harper (11-4) at Listowel 2m 6f hcp Yielding - Soft in Sep.
Blast Of Koeman (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, slightly hampered 4th, 6th halfway, 4th 3 out, 3rd and ridden after next, under pressure and kept on well run-in, not reach winner, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Subset (11-7) at Punchestown 3m 1f gd in Apr.
Champagne Platinum (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) In rear, pushed along and some headway after 4 out, ridden and no impression in 8th before 2 out, no extra, 7th of 14, dist behind Sir Bob (10-2) at Cork 3m 4f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Enjoy D'allen (FR) 50-1 (10-5) Off the pace and always rear-division, tailed off 20th, 12th of 39, dist behind Corach Rambler (10-5) at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Singing Banjo (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) Twrds rr & 12th 1/2way, no impr & ko smepce from 3out, 10th of 15, dist behind Focus Point (11-11) at Tinahely 3m gs in Oct.
Three By Two (IRE) 5-2fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, badly hampered 4th, 3rd halfway, close up 3 out and 2nd next, headway to challenge before last, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, dropped to 3rd closing stages, 3rd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Subset (11-7) at Punchestown 3m 1f gd in Apr.
