chased leaders, 5th halfway, not fluent 9th and soon pushed along, no impression in moderate 4th 3 out, no extra
chased leader, 3rd halfway, 2nd after 8th, 3rd 3 out, ridden and no impression approaching last, kept on one pace to go 2nd closing stages
led at steady pace, not fluent 2nd, headed after 3rd and soon dropped towards rear, 6th halfway, pushed along and no impression 3 out, weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders, progress to lead after 3rd and soon clear, 6 lengths lead halfway, slight mistake 7th, reduced advantage before 2 out, ridden and headed before last, no extra run-in
chased leader, slow 1st and not fluent 2nd, 4th halfway, slight mistake 4 out, progress into 2nd next, ridden to lead before last where slight mistake, kept on well run-in
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along and dropped towards rear approaching 3 out, no extra
Bothair Clei has won three times over fences since last appearing over timber and can race from an 11lb lower mark so enters the equation. Tarabiyn hasn't really done enough to be considered but is only five and the longer trip may prove just what he needs. Rathpatrick had been chasing with no success but has reverted to hurdles in good form and stayed on very strongly to score over this trip at Punchestown. However, an 8lb rise makes things more difficult while POSITIVE APPROACH has an 11lb hike to contend with after he completed a double over slightly shorter here a month ago. But, providing the ground doesn't dry out, John Walsh's charge looks set to complete a hat-trick. Railway Tommy is only 2lb higher than his sole success over hurdles last March but the selection's stable companion Sonny B is better over fences.
Rathpatrick (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, ridden in 7th 3 out, no impression next, stayed on strongly into 2nd last, kept on well run-in to lead close home, won at Punchestown 3m hcp sft in Jan beating Oscar Sam (11-4) by 1/2l, 15 ran.
Positive Approach (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, improved to challenge travelling well 2 out, led last, ridden to assert run-in, comfortably, won at Thurles 2m 6f hcp hvy in Jan beating Toushan (11-3) by 6l, 11 ran.
Tarabiyn (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Towards rear, 13th halfway, progress after 4 out, went 3rd and mistake 2 out, ridden and soon no extra, moderate 5th before last, 5th of 13, 25 1/2l behind Diamond Cauchois (10-0) at Thurles 2m 4f hcp sft in Jan.
Railway Tommy (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, slight mistake 8th, progress into 8th after 4 out, ridden in 7th 3 out, under pressure next, kept on one pace from before last, 5th of 12, 11 1/2l behind Nickname Exit (11-2) at Navan 2m 6f hcp hvy in Feb.
Sonny B (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, 5th early, some slight mistakes, closed up approaching straight towards outer, pushed along 3 out, soon no impression, no extra when mistake last, 6th of 8, 30l behind Toushan (11-4) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp hvy in Feb.
Bothair Clei (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Held up, slight mistake 5 out, closer in 5th after 4 out, ridden and no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace, moderate 4th last, 4th of 9, 28 1/4l behind Bonny Kate (10-1) at Punchestown 3m 4f hcp sft in Jan.
