tracked leaders on inner, disputed lead 5 out, led travelling well 3 out, went clear 2 out, briefly shaken up inside final furlong, stayed on strongly, eased close home, very easily
mid-division, closer in 5th 3 out, ridden in moderate 4th 2 out, no impression in 4th when fell at last
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
always towards rear, no impression from 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
rear of mid-division on outer, slight mistake 2nd, bad mistake and unseated rider 5 out
in rear, headway on inner 4 out, 8th next, ridden entering straight, moderate 7th 2 out, 5th approaching last, left 4th at last, kept on one pace
towards rear on outer, slight mistake 4th, pushed along 8th, no impression, pulled up before 2 out
led, mistake and joined from 5th, headed 10th, ridden 4 out, under pressure in 7th when bad mistake 3 out, no impression
rear of mid-division on outer, mistake 2nd, jumped left 5 out, 10th and pushed along 3 out, ridden in moderate 8th 3 out, kept on one pace
mid-division, mistake 5 out, slightly hampered approaching 4 out, went 3rd 3 out, ridden in 2nd and no impression on winner 2 out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
tracked leaders, 6th 3 out, soon pushed along, ridden in moderate 7th 2 out, kept on without threatening inside final furlong
mid-division on inner, ridden 4 out, went 4th next, moderate 3rd 2 out, kept on one pace
always towards rear, never a factor
prominent, disputed lead from 5th, led 10th, joined next, ridden and headed 3 out, soon no impression
tracked leaders slight mistake 9th, closer 3rd 5 out, became injured approaching 4 out where unseated rider
Of the last 15 of these, Jessica Harrington has won four and Willie Mullins seven. Philip Hobbs scored in 2010 with Wishful Thinking and sends over Dostal Phil, an excellent third in the Grade 3 Red Rum at Aintree, with Simon Torrens claiming a valuable 3lb. The champion trainer has three entries and though Antey, who makes his handicap debut over fences, is likely to attract support it's top weight ASTERION FORLONGE who could be the pick of the trio as four of his five runs since scoring on his chasing bow here in November have been at Grade 1 level. The in-form Harrington stable is represented by Port Stanley, though he was a long way behind A Wave Of The Sea in the Grade B Matheson Handicap at Leopardstown. The winner ran poorly at Cheltenham and Mark Walsh prefers School Boy Hours for J P McManus. January Jets goes for Henry De Bromhead and he was probably in need of the run at Fairyhouse earlier this month after an easy victory at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Asterion Forlonge (FR) 7-4fav (11-12) Disputed until headed after 1st, not always fluent, slow 6th, 2nd halfway and on terms from 9th, strongly pressed when not fluent 2 out, soon ridden and headed, no impression in 3rd at last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 11 3/4l behind Janidil (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Apr.
Fils D'oudairies (FR) 16-1 (11-3) Rear of mid-division, not fluent 7th, blundered 12th, hit next and 4 out, never got on terms, well beaten when fell last, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
January Jets (IRE) 28-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, 8th halfway, pushed along and no impression after 4 out, moderate 7th when mistake 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 9, 28 1/2l behind Janidil (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Apr.
Rebel Gold (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Mid-division, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Gowran Park 2m 2f hcp hvy in Mar.
Dostal Phil (FR) 17-2 (11-2) Towards rear, smooth progress after 3 out, pushed along and keeping on after 2 out, every chance when disputing 2nd last, now extra run-in, 3rd of 18, 2 3/4l behind Editeur Du Gite (10-9) at Aintree 2m hcp (1) gs in Apr.
I'm A Game Changer (IRE) 80-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, 9th halfway, pushed along and no impression after 4 out, no extra from next, never a factor, 7th of 9, dist behind Janidil (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Apr.
A Wave Of The Sea (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up rear of mid-division, not fluent 7th, bumped 9th, some headway on outside approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 15th of 21, 29 3/4l behind The Shunter (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Antey (GER) 7-4 (12-0) Led, joined before 3 out, mistake 3 out and headed, ridden and slight mistake next, pressed leader and slight mistake last, soon bumped, no extra in 2nd closing stages, kept on same pace, 2nd of 14, 2 3/4l behind Cedarwood Road (12-0) at Gowran Park 2m 4f Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Fan De Blues (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Rear of mid-division, progress into 4th 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace in 2nd run-in, 2nd of 14, 8 1/2l behind Montagne D'Argent (9-12) at Gowran Park 2m 2f hcp hvy in Mar.
Walk Away (IRE) 10-3fav (10-7) Held up towards rear, fell 6 out, at Limerick 3m hcp sft in Oct.
School Boy Hours (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Mid-division, 6th halfway, headway 3 out, ridden in 4th approaching next, no impression approaching last, kept on one pace to go moderate 3rd run-in, 3rd of 12, 12l behind Stormy Judge (10-5) at Navan 3m hcp hvy in Mar.
Port Stanley (IRE) 5-4fav (12-0) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, challenged entering straight, disputed 3 out, ridden before next, headed and held run-in, 2nd of 14, 1 1/4l behind The Very Man (12-0) at Cork 2m 4f Good - Yielding in Apr.
Duc D'Allier (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, still in touch after 4 out, no impression before next, pulled up quickly after 3 out, at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Apr.
Notice To Close 8-1 (11-9) Chased leader, led 2nd, ridden and headed entering straight, under pressure in 2nd 2 out, 3rd and no extra run-in, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Champagne Beauty (10-1) at Wexford 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Ificudiwud (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, left 2nd 9th and disputed from next, led 6 out, mistake next, pushed along early straight and strongly pressed approaching last, kept on well run-in and asserted close home, won at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp Yielding in Apr beating Young Dev (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Crossed My Mind (IRE) 11-1 (10-5) Mid-division, ridden in 8th entering straight, no impression 2 out, kept on one pace, 8th of 24, 21 1/4l behind Foxy Jacks (9-13) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Apr.
