soon tracked leaders, slight mistake 2nd, 4th from 4th, slight mistake 3 out, kept on same pace from next
led and disputed, headed between last 2, edged left towards stand's side run-in and kept on without matching winner
close up and disputed lead, 2nd when not fluent 3 out, pushed along approaching straight, came close with rival approaching 2 out, soon one pace
prominent, a little slow at 1st, reminder and pushed along briefly after 2nd, 7th from 4th, pushed along approaching straight, no extra from 2 out
soon chased leaders, 6th from 4th, kept on same pace from 2 out
waited with, not fluent 4th, soon raced in 12th, slight mistake 3 out, soon no impression, not fluent 2 out and no extra
in rear, hit 1st and soon behind, completely tailed off
waited with, reminder after 3rd, 14th from next, pushed along from 3 out, soon one pace
waited with, 13th from 4th, soon no danger, completely tailed off
soon chased leaders, 5th from 4th, came close with rival approaching 2 out, led between last 2, stayed on well run-in
waited with, not fluent 4th, soon raced in 15th and no danger, completely tailed off
soon tracked leaders, 3rd from 4th, slight mistake 3 out, weakened from next
waited with, 11th from 4th, pushed along from 3 out, kept on without threatening from next
waited with, took keen hold, 8th from 4th, soon closed, no extra from 2 out
waited with, 10th from 4th, some headway approaching straight, kept on same pace from 2 out
not fluent 1st, soon mid-division, 9th from 4th, some headway and pushed along approaching straight, kept on same pace from 2 out
Formentera showed nothing in two starts for Willie Mullins after arriving from France but is likely to be suited by the testing conditions. Ashqar has run his two best races on this track, though both on good going, but there was plenty of give when Fou Diligence finished a close second at Listowel. Philip Dempsey's charge looks certain to go well while Frankincense, a son of Galileo, has run very well on both starts over timber and would be a threat if handling the conditions. Hereditary Rule won a point at Edgcote by 12 lengths and has joined Gordon Elliott while Tomeric had looked a likely future winner when a close second at Sligo and was in touch when unseating his rider at Ballinrobe. UNION GAP has had plenty of experience which should help in these conditions. His narrow defeat at Cork in December came on heavy going and he looks the safest option in a tricky opener.
Alfa Mix 40-1 (11-7) Rear of mid-division, closer in 6th 3 out, soon no impression, 6th of 11, 10 1/2l behind Winner Takes Itall (11-7) at Listowel 2m mdn gd in Sep.
Arthur Fonzarelli (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Soon chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden after 4 out, no extra before next, moderate 7th when fell last, at Cork 2m mdn gd in Jul.
Fou Diligence (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Soon tracked leaders, 3rd from 3rd, effort before last, kept on well run-in without reaching winner, 2nd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Anything Will Do (11-8) at Listowel 2m mdn Yielding in Sep.
Frankincense (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Rear of mid-division early, slight mistake 3rd, ridden in moderate 8th before 2 out, kept on into 4th after last, never better, 4th of 14, 5 1/4l behind Rips Dream (11-7) at Wexford 2m mdn gd in Sep.
Hereditary Rule (IRE) 11-10fav (11-0) Hdwy 15; led 2 out; comf, won at Edgcote 3m mdn in May beating Bite My Tongue (12-0) by 12l, 6 ran.
King Con (FR) 33-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, last halfway, progress on outer to 4th after 3 out, ridden and kept on one pace after last, 6th of 14, 10l behind Rips Dream (11-7) at Wexford 2m mdn gd in Sep.
My Bonny Prince (IRE) Perugino gelding out of Braveheart Bonny.
Northern Love (IRE) Winged Love gelding out of Religious Rose.
Saltmarket 50-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, mistake 1st, progress to mid-division when ran around before 5th, 6th before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, 11th of 14, dist behind Rips Dream (11-7) at Wexford 2m mdn gd in Sep.
Tomeric (FR) 2-1fav (11-1) Settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, bad mistake 4 out and unseated rider, at Ballinrobe 2m 1f mdn gd in Jul.
Tribal Story (IRE) 50-1 (11-8) Towards rear, never a factor, not fluent 2nd, rear of mid-division when mistake 4 out, no extra after next, weakened, completely tailed off, last of 15, dist behind Pakens Rock (11-12) at Galway 2m 1f mdn sft in Sep.
Union Gap (IRE) 4-5fav (11-0) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden in 4th after 2 out, no impression in 3rd and slight mistake last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 16, 4l behind Paddy Buns (11-4) at Kilbeggan 2m 2f mdn Good - Yielding in Jun.
Birdie Blitz (IRE) 40-1 (11-1) Towards rear, pushed along after 3 out and 11th next, kept on one pace in straight, never a factor, 7th of 15, 23 1/4l behind Pakens Rock (11-12) at Galway 2m 1f mdn sft in Sep.
Formentera (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Disputed lead early, took keen hold, not fluent at 1st and headed 2nd, ridden and weakened quickly entering straight, soon eased, 16th of 20, dist behind Our Legend (11-7) at Navan 2m mdn Yielding in Mar.
Paula's Prayer (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Towards rear, slightly hampered 1st, some progress into 10th from halfway, further progress into 8th before 3 out and pushed along in 6th from next, no impression and left in 4th at last, dropped to 5th run-in, 5th of 17, 12l behind Rocky Shores (11-7) at Roscommon 2m mdn gd in Jun.
My Uncas (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Mid-division, dropped towards rear 4f out, still well in touch when brought down entering straight, at Naas 2m gd in Feb.
Ashqar (IRE) 12-1 (9-11) A little slow into stride, waited with, moderate 14th approaching halfway, soon pushed along, no extra approaching straight, 14th of 18, 33 1/4l behind Jazz Lady (9-1) at Galway 1m 4f hcp sft in Sep.
It's A Hoofer (FR) Loup Breton gelding out of Sonycara.
Sharg (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, jumped slightly left 1st and bumped rival, 3rd after 2nd, no extra from 2 out, 13th of 17, 28 1/4l behind Bective Cave (11-5) at Down Royal 2m hcp gd in Aug.
Tuatha De Dannan (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Mid-division and some slight mistakes, took keen hold early, 7th from 3rd, pushed along approaching straight and no impression, 8th of 14, 26 1/4l behind Anything Will Do (11-8) at Listowel 2m mdn Yielding in Sep.
Colour Me In (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Towards rear, rear of mid-division when bad mistake and unseated rider 5th, at Galway 2m 1f hcp sft in Sep.