disputed and not fluent 1st, led 2nd, joined before 7th where bad mistake and headed, close up again 5 out, ridden to dispute entering straight, narrow lead after 2 out, joined and mistake last, soon led, kept on well run-in
not fluent 1st, held up behind leaders, kept wide, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 10th, no impression on leaders from 4 out, weakened next
disputed briefly, soon held up towards rear, slight mistake 8th, no impression from 7 out, weakened 5 out
not fluent 1st, soon tracked leaders, mistake 6th, rear and reminders 8th, pulled up before next
held up early, tracked leaders before 3rd, disputed before 7th, led 7th, pressed from 5 out, slight mistake 3 out, soon ridden and joined, slight mistake 2 out, soon narrowly headed, rallied and upsides when bad mistake last, soon headed, kept on same pace
Solomn Grundy and Dorking Cock are fine hunter-chasers who arrive in winning form but this should be dominated by BILLAWAY and Vaucelet. The former, twice runner-up in the championship race at Cheltenham, finally landed the race last month when coming with a late run to catch Winged Leader. Just touched off in this a year ago he'll make a bold bid to go one better. Vaucelet doesn't quite have his back catalogue and was beaten by Dorking Cock at Down Royal in December. However, he's only seven and is improving fast so should turn the tables and was very impressive at Fairyhouse last time.
Billaway (IRE) 13-8fav (12-0) Midfield, mistake 4th (water), jumped right 6th, mistake 18th, pushed along before 4 out, ridden before 3 out, 10 lengths down in 3rd 2 out, took 2nd last, stayed on strongly flat, led on line, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gs in Mar beating Winged Leader (12-0) by nk, 19 ran.
Dorking Cock (IRE) 6-4 (12-2) Ld, hdd aftr 4th, 2nd 1/2way, chall ldr 2out gng well, sn ld, rdn into str with 3l adv, 2l ld last, chall run-in, kow flat, won at Oldcastle 3m sft in Apr beating Vis Ta Loi (12-2) by shd, 7 ran.
Poli Roi (FR) 33-1 (12-0) Towards rear, slight mistake 7th, 7th halfway, no impression 6 out, went moderate 4th when bad mistake 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, dist behind Vaucelet (12-0) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f Good - Yielding in Apr.
Solomn Grundy (IRE) 4-6 (11-6) Made all, sl adv 1/2way, 2l ld 4out, 3l adv appr str, rdn after 2out 1l adv last, kow cl hm, won at Nenagh 3m Yielding in Mar beating Stand Up And Fight (11-11) by 1 1/2l, 3 ran.
Vaucelet (FR) 10-11fav (12-0) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, headway in 2nd after 5 out, pushed along and led 2 out, soon drew clear, kept on well, won at Fairyhouse 3m 1f Good - Yielding in Apr beating Aloneamongmillions (12-0) by 20l, 8 ran.
Kitsilano (IRE) 9-1 (12-0) Towards rear, improved to 3rd after 2f, kept to outer from halfway, headway over 5f out, dropped to 4th and under pressure 3f out, weakened 2 1/2f out, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Kalanisi Star (12-0) at Gowran Park 2m 2f hvy in Mar.
