led to before 9th, soon lost place, outpaced 4 out, no danger after
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 4 out, driven and outpaced next, no chance with winner
tracked leader, led before 9th, made rest, clear 2 out, driven out comfortably
held up, hit 8th, soon struggling, tailed off 3 out
in rear, lost touch 7th, soon tailed off
tended to jump right, chased leaders, pushed along 7th, ridden and outpaced 4 out, never on terms
FAIR ALONG may have been well beaten in the Cesarewitch but that can see him strip fitter here, and prove too good for Petitfour and Lough Derg. Petitfour underlined his progress last season when finishing well ahead of Fair Along at Punchestown at the end of last season when a good second in a top event. That contest was run on a testing surface however, and this quicker ground may help Fair Along turn that form around. Petitfour included Lough Derg amongst his beaten rivals when taking this race last year, and though Lough Derg went on to have a fine season, his final efforts of the campaign were very modest. Fair Along took a couple of lucrative handicap hurdles last season before coming up against Big Buck's on no fewer than three occasions. He was not disgraced on each of those runs and with the good ground that he prefers here, Fair Along can prove too strong and take a race has earmarked for him for some time.
Lough Derg (FR) 28-1 (11-10) Led, not fluent 7th, headed 9th, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 10, well behind Big Buck's (11-10) at Aintree 3m hdl G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Pettifour (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 6th approaching 7th, headway to 4th 4 out, improved to 2nd 2 out, led entering straight, ridden and headed before last, no extra and kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Fiveforthree (11-10) at Punchestown 3m hdl G1 gs in Apr.
Fair Along (GER) 8-1 (11-10) Led, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Fiveforthree (11-10) at Punchestown 3m hdl G1 gs in Apr.
Auenschutze (GER) 14-1 (10-8) Held up, progress into 7th before 3 out, soon ridden, no impression straight, 5th of 13, 8l behind Baily Rock (10-6) at Gowran Park 3m hcp hdl gf.
Ecole D'Art (USA) 10-1 (10-11) Always behind, no impression from 3 out, 7th of 13, 12l behind Baily Rock (10-6) at Gowran Park 3m hcp hdl gf.
No Refuge (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, ridden after 8th, soon struggling, 7th of 10, 36l behind Big Buck's (11-10) at Aintree 3m hdl G2 (1) gd in Apr.
