waited with, towards rear approaching 3 out, no extra from next
bad mistake and unseated rider 1st
prominent in chasing group, closer in 3rd into straight, kept on same pace under pressure from before last
mid-division best, no impression 2 out
waited with, towards rear approaching 3 out, no extra from next
well off pace towards rear, some headway from 2 out, soon no impression and kept on same pace
chased leaders, well off pace, went in pursuit of leader from before straight, on terms at last, led and stayed on best closing stages
prominent in chasing group, closer in 4th into straight, struggling when bumped approaching last, soon no impression and kept on same pace
waited with well off pace towards rear, some headway from 2 out, soon no impression and kept on same pace
led and soon clear, reduced lead approaching straight, headed and no extra when short of room before last, kept on same pace
waited with well off pace in mid-division, closer in 5th into straight, squeezed way out to challenge approaching last where on terms, not match winner and kept on same pace in 2nd closing stages
soon chased leaders, well off pace, closer in 6th and flicked tail into straight, ridden to chase leaders and no impression run-in, kept on same pace
prominent in chasing group, headway from 2 out, soon no impression and kept on same pace
Raiders from the UK have regularly won this so Unknown Rebel and the Alan King pair Secret Edge and BALDER SUCCESS have to be respected. The latter looks the one to be on here as he looked a future star when completing a four-timer at Ascot in February and was strongly fancied for the Triumph Hurdle but ran too freely before falling at the fourth. Whether he would have beaten subsequent runner-up Hisaabaat that day is a matter of conjecture but he's much more likely to be suited by these testing conditions than Dermot Weld's charge and can gain compensation for his Festival lapse. Shadow Catcher had been narrowly beaten by Hisaabaat at Leopardstown and got no sort of run at Cheltenham. He'll finish much closer this time and had Darroun close behind over the C&D in December. Ut De Sivola was pulled up in the Triumph where the ground was too quick but shouldn't be overlooked as he'd beaten Hisaabaat comfortably in a Grade 3 on testing ground here in January.
Arnaud (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and no extra 2 out, 8th of 11, 25l behind Ballynacree (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl Grd 3 (1) gs.
Balder Succes (FR) 15-2 (11-0) Held up mid-division on outside when fell 4th, in a race won by Countrywide Flame (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar, 20 ran.
Darroun (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, lost place 2 out, soon weakened, 13th of 20, 29l behind Countrywide Flame (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Darwins Theory (IRE) Evensfav (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 2 out, 2nd travelling well entering straight, led 1f out and soon pushed clear, kept on well, won at Wexford 2m 4yo mdn hdl sft in Mar beating Groomed (11-7) by 2 3/4l, 10 ran.
Edeymi (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden and weakened entering, tailed off, last of 11, well behind Ballynacree (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl Grd 3 (1) gs.
His Excellency (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) In rear, ridden to chase leaders and no impression from before last where mistake, kept on same pace run-in, 6th of 12, 10l behind Jenari (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) gd.
Hisaabaat (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division on inside, chased leaders 2 out, 4th last, ridden and stayed on flat, went 2nd towards finish, never reached winner, 2nd of 20, 3l behind Countrywide Flame (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Secret Edge 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out, 12th of 17, well behind Simonsig (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Shadow Catcher 10-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, towards rear, mistake 4th, headway on inside 2 out, outpaced when not much room between last 2, weakened last, 12th of 20, 29l behind Countrywide Flame (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Unknown Rebel (IRE) 5-2 (10-7) Jumped well, made all, clear with 2nd before 4th, ran on strongly, unchallenged, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) gd in Nov beating Kazlian (10-12) by 15l, 8 ran.
Ut De Sivola (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division, lost place 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, in a race won by Countrywide Flame (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar, 20 ran.
Wingtips (FR) 100-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway into mid-division before 2 out, ridden and kept on from last, no impression with leaders, 5th of 20, 9l behind Countrywide Flame (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Maggie Neary (IRE) 15-8fav (10-6) Held up towards rear, headway in 4th 3 out, travelled well in 3rd entering straight, mistake 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 12l behind Tango Banbou (11-2) at Gowran Park 2m nov hdl (4-6yo) in Mar.
