disputed lead early, not fluent 4th, led before 5th, pressed from 3 out, ridden and headed before last, soon dropped to 3rd and no extra, not fluent last
raced in 4th, not fluent 3rd, went 3rd before 4 out, pushed along and closed on front pair after 2 out, challenged in 2nd before last, ridden to lead run-in and kept on well
disputed lead early, dropped to 2nd before 5th, challenged leader from 3 out where not fluent, pushed along to lead before last and soon ridden, strongly pressed from last and headed run-in, no extra and kept on same pace
raced in 3rd, not fluent 7th, pushed along and dropped to rear 4 out, not fluent next and soon no extra
raced in rear, went 4th from 4 out, ridden and no impression from 2 out
Cilaos Emery won this a year ago, the fifth time he had scored after a break, so the lack of a run won't be a problem. Escaria Ten and Mount Ida represent Gordon Elliott, the former having run in the Grand National after being beaten a nose by Any Second Now in a Fairyhouse Grade 3 earlier. The latter also ran at Aintree where he unseated his rider at the first and he also unshipped his rider in the Irish National. DARASSO (NAP) has a race-fitness advantage having been beaten narrowly in the Galway Plate and placed in the Kerry National at Listowel. He found heavy ground against him behind Blue Lord and Tornado Flyer in a Clonmel Grade 2 last month and can take this providing the ground doesn't become too testing.
Cilaos Emery (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, hampered and left 2nd at 4th, left in lead 7th, 1 length lead entering straight, pecked last and headed, ridden and no impression on winner final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 7 1/2l behind Easy Game (11-8) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Apr.
Darasso (FR) 3-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, 3rd halfway, closer in 2nd when mistake 3 out, headway into close 2nd entering straight, pushed along and dropped to 3rd 2 out, soon no extra, 3rd of 4, 3l behind Blue Lord (11-8) at Clonmel 2m 4f (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Escaria Ten (FR) 25-1 (11-1) Raced wide in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 25th (canal turn), pushed along and weakened before 2 out, 9th of 40, dist behind Noble Yeats (10-10) at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Mount Ida (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Towards rear, no impression when stumbled and unseated rider before 16th, at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp Yielding in Apr.
Indie Belle (IRE) 11-2 (10-6) In touch, 4th before 4th, lost place 2 out where not fluent, dropped to 7th before last where not fluent, kept on one pace, 6th of 12, 8l behind Walnut Beach (11-13) at Cork 2m hcp hvy in Nov.
