tracked leader, 3rd halfway, pushed along after 2 out and headway to lead narrowly last, ridden and kept on well run-in, held on
tracked leaders, headway into 2nd halfway, travelled well and left in front 2 out, pushed along and headed narrowly last, ridden and kept on well run-in, just failed
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along and closer when mistake 2 out, ridden and no impression in 3rd approaching last, no extra
towards rear, slight mistake 5 out, pushed along and closer in 5th after 3 out, 4th and no impression approaching last, ridden and no extra run-in
led, pecked 6th, strongly pressed when stumbled badly 2 out and headed, not recover, eased
towards rear, pecked slightly 6th, slow 4 out and no impression early straight, moderate 5th last, ridden and kept on one pace run-in
Willie Mullins has won the last six of these and has four of the seven entries. GENTLEMAN DU MEE took a couple of races to warm up over fences but now looks a high-class prospect after accounting for the odds-on Edwardstone in the Grade 1 Maghull at Aintree. The latter had earlier beaten Gabynako, Blue Lord and Haut En Couleurs in the Arkle at Cheltenham and all three look held on collateral form. Saint Sam, who unseated in the Arkle, had earlier finished four lengths behind Blue Lord at Leopardstown.
Blue Lord (FR) 4-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, jumped right and not fluent 2nd, closed next, went 3rd last, no impression on winner but pressed for 2nd flat, no extra and edged left final 75 yards, 3rd of 11, 7 3/4l behind Edwardstone (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Coeur Sublime (IRE) 18-1 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, hampered 4th, slow and in rear 7th, well beaten after 3 out, hampered last, 7th of 11, 28 1/4l behind Edwardstone (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Gabynako (FR) 25-1 (11-4) Held up in rear on inside, headway 3 out, not much room 2 out, went 2nd last, stayed on flat but no impression on winner, 2nd of 11, 4 1/4l behind Edwardstone (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Haut En Couleurs (FR) 6-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, raced keenly, closed on outside 9th, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, 5th when jumped left last, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 16 1/4l behind Edwardstone (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Saint Sam (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, not fluent 1st, hampered and unseated rider 4th, at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Maskada (FR) 15-2 (11-10) Led until 4 out, ridden and dropped to 3rd when fell next, at Newbury 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Gentleman De Mee (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Made all, hit 4 out, mistake 2 out, quickened before last, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Aintree 2m (1) gs in Apr beating Edwardstone (11-4) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
